Overflow locations

The map below shows the location of all our overflows and their outlet points.

The traffic light notifications indicate whether the overflow monitoring system is activating or not, and/or if an activation has happened within the last 24 hours.

Data received from our monitoring equipment isn’t always accurate, so it’s important to note that not all activations mean that a discharge is happening or has happened.

The notifications are near real-time and aren’t audited or verified at this stage.

However, if we identify a concern with the data we receive from a monitor we will send out one of our team to investigate immediately.

Map key

Water quality sample results

The graphs below show the significant reduction in harmful bacteria in the Environment Agency’s (EA) water samples since the 1990s. E. coli and  Intestinal Enterococci exist in all open water - they are found in human and animal poo, and get into the water via sewage spills, road drainage, agricultural livestock, or wildlife and birds. The EA uses the levels of these bacteria to decide whether to award this beach bathing water status.

2025-2030 investment programme

To help reduce the risk of environmental impact from our sewerage network, and to contribute towards improving bathing water quality at Gyllyngvase, we have earmarked circa £600,000 of investment up to March 2025^*.

We have recently undertaken work to better utilise the existing storm water tank at Queen Mary Gardens pumping station. This will be followed up by further improvement to pipework in the car park.

We also plan to install additional storm water storage in the car park area.

The 2025-2030 investment programme is currently being scoped out. If you’re a community group or part of a local network and would like to have your say see ‘Your Beach, Your Say, Our Investment’.

^*Amounts earmarked for investment may change dependent on the final design of the optimal solution and costings provided by our supply chain.

4 year overflow spill information

The data shown in the table below is the reported annual total spill number for each overflow which has been identified by the EA for this bathing water.

The assignment of an overflow to the bathing water does not always mean an impact will occur, it can be dependent on a number of factors such as tidal state and weather conditions. Sometimes it has been allocated just for investigation purposes and has no impact at all.

All data collected goes through vigorous quality assurance processes before being included in the counts. Sometimes debris can trigger false spills to be recorded, resulting in potentially higher than actual spill numbers.

Number of spills

The beach profiles were created in line with information provided by our partners, Environment Agency, RNLI, Keep Britain Tidy, MCS - Beach Guide and British Beaches.