Babbacombe beach
Babbacombe beach is part of a series of little coves just east of Torquay. The beach is a little crescent of sand and shingle backed by thickly wooded cliffs, dotted with 1930s villas. One end is a small stone breakwater which is an idyllic spot to cast a line if fishing is your thing.
Babbacombe is a popular dive spot and dive training place. Its sheltered aspect, clear water and easy seabed make it ideal for beginners.
Why is there no spill data for Babbacombe beach?
The storm overflow at Babbacombe is sealed, so it can't impact water quality at the nearby beach. Inside the pumping station there is a monitor recording the wastewater level. On a few occasions in recent years, the monitor has sent a signal that the level was high enough to cause an activation, but because the overflow is sealed this was a false result and no spill took place. This is why we have removed spill data from Babbacombe - the storm overflow is no longer operational.
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.
More about what we're doing
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.