Latest news with #bathingwaters
The Sun
2 days ago
- Health
- The Sun
Full list of 93 cleanest beaches in England and Wales where you can swim without worrying about sewage
A REFRESHING sea swim isn't what it used to be thanks to the UK's water companies pumping sewage off our coastline on a daily basis. In fact, of the 561 designated bathing waters across England and Wales, there are just 93 that are considered the safest to swim in. The Sun's Travel team have been working with Surfers Against Sewage, a charity fighting to keep our favourite swim spots clean, to collect data on the 93 English and Welsh coastal waters that are least impacted by pollution. Swimming in polluted water or water of poor classification can leave people ill due to the likelihood of harmful bacteria, viruses, or pathogens like E. coli being present. The most common illness associated with bathing in dirty water is gastroenteritis, which causes diarrhoea and vomiting. In most cases these symptoms are mild and resolve on their own - but some cases can be severe, and even require hospitalisation. The list of 93 bathing spots is based on water company assessments, which reveal which coastal waters are not impacted by sewage pollution. One of the most popular beaches on the list is Broadsands Beach in South Devon. Another stunning Devon beach, Ladram Bay, has been included in the list too. Low Newton in Northumberland, Whitesands Bay, and Poole Harbour Lake also make the cut. Alum Chine Beach in Bournemouth, meanwhile - the coastal spot that has just been named as one of the World's Best Beaches - has a water cleanliness classification of "excellent". Of the 93 bathing waters, 15 are in Devon, 28 are in Cornwall, 21 are in Wales and 12 are in Dorset - with others scattered around England. UK beach named one of the top 100 in the world 5 5 The beaches are either managed by Northumbrian Water, South West Water, Southern Water, United Utilities, Welsh Water or Wessex Water. Inland bathing waters have been removed from the data as these are often affected by sewage, whether that be due to overflow or agricultural and sludge runoff from fields. The 89 bathing waters in Scotland haven't been included here as Scottish Water doesn't provide data or have processes in place to indicate the impact of sewage on these bathing waters. You can see the full list of beaches along with the water company and water classification in our interactive map below. 5 The classification of bathing water is sorted into four categories - excellent, good, sufficient, and poor. Those rated as excellent or good generally have the best water quality for swimming. On the list of 93, only two have the sufficient water classification - Goring Beach and Llandudno North Shore. You can still swim in sufficient classified water, as it indicates it meets the minimum standard for bathing, but there may be some risk of illness from bacteria. To see more about the water classification and for more information on bathing waters across the country, Surfers Against Sewage has created the Safer Seas and Rivers Service app. The app has its own map showing live sewage discharges across the UK while monitoring over 17,000 overflows. We'd recommend checking it before visiting a beach in the UK - especially after heavy rainfall. Based on water company assessments, these coastal bathing waters in England and Wales are not impacted by sewage pollution... Low Newton - Northumbrian Water - Excellent Roker, Sunderland - Northumbrian Water - Excellent Seaton Carew North Gare - Northumbrian Water - Excellent South Shields - Northumbrian Water - Good Ansteys Cove, Torquay - South West Water - Excellent Berrow North of Unity Farm - South West Water - Good Boobys Bay - South West Water - Excellent Bovisand - South West Water - Excellent Brean - South West Water - Good Broadsands Beach - South West Water - Excellent Chapel Porth - South West Water - Excellent Church Cove - South West Water - Excellent Combesgate Beach - South West Water - Excellent Constantine Bay Beach - South West Water - Excellent Crinnis Beach (Carlyon Bay) - South West Water - Excellent Daymer Bay - South West Water - Excellent Great Western - South West Water - Excellent Gwynver - South West Water - Excellent Hartland Quay - South West Water - Excellent Hayle Towans - South West Water - Excellent Ilfracombe Tunnels - South West Water - Excellent Kennack Sands - South West Water - Excellent Ladram Bay - South West Water - Excellent Lusty Glaze - South West Water - Excellent Maenporth - South West Water - Good Maidencombe - South West Water - Excellent Mother Ivey's Bay - South West Water - Excellent Ness Cove - South West Water - Excellent Northcott Mouth - South West Water - Excellent Oddicombe - South West Water - Excellent Pendower - South West Water - Excellent Penzance - South West Water - Good Perranporth Penhale Sands - South West Water - Excellent Polkerris - South West Water - Good Porthcothan - South West Water - Excellent Porthmeor Beach - South West Water - Excellent Praa Sands - South West Water - Excellent Praa Sands East - South West Water - Excellent Putsborough - South West Water - Excellent Sandymouth Bay Beach - South West Water - Excellent Saunton Sands - South West Water - Excellent Sharrow Beach - South West Water - Excellent Sidmouth Jacobs Ladder - South West Water - Excellent Slapton Sands Monument - South West Water - Excellent Tolcarne - South West Water - Excellent Tregonhawke - South West Water - Excellent Treyarnon Bay - South West Water - Excellent Upton Towans - South West Water - Excellent Vault Beach - South West Water - Excellent Watcombe - South West Water - Excellent Wherrytown - South West Water - Good Goring Beach - Southern Water - Sufficient Rottingdean Beach - Southern Water - Good Formby - United Utilities - Excellent Silecroft - United Utilities - Excellent Abereiddy - Welsh Water - Excellent Borth Beach - Welsh Water - Excellent Borth Wen Beach (Borthwen) - Welsh Water - Good Broad Haven (South) - Welsh Water - Excellent Church Bay - Welsh Water - Excellent Freshwater West - Welsh Water - Excellent Llanddona - Welsh Water - Good Llanddwyn - Welsh Water - Excellent Llandudno North Shore - Welsh Water - Sufficient Llandudno West Shore - Welsh Water - Good Marloes Sands - Welsh Water - Excellent Morfa Dinlle - Welsh Water - Excellent Oxwich Bay - Welsh Water - Good Penbryn Beach - Welsh Water - Excellent Porth Nefyn - Welsh Water - Good Porth Neigwl - Welsh Water - Excellent Sandy Haven - Welsh Water - Excellent Silver Bay (Traeth Llydan) - Welsh Water - Excellent Southerndown Beach (Dunraven Bay) - Welsh Water - Excellent Tal-y-Bont - Welsh Water - Excellent Whitesands Bay - Welsh Water - Excellent Bournemouth Alum Chine - Wessex Water - Excellent Bournemouth Durley Chine - Wessex Water - Excellent Bournemouth Southbourne - Wessex Water - Excellent Christchurch Mudeford Sandbank East - Wessex Water - Excellent Church Ope Cove - Wessex Water - Excellent Durdle Door East - Wessex Water - Excellent Durdle Door West - Wessex Water - Excellent Henleaze Lake - Wessex Water - Good Hive Beach - Wessex Water - Excellent Kimmeridge Bay - Wessex Water - Excellent Lulworth Cove - Wessex Water - Excellent Poole Canford Cliffs Chine - Wessex Water - Excellent Poole Harbour Lake - Wessex Water - Excellent Porlock Weir - Wessex Water - Excellent Shell Bay North - Wessex Water - Excellent Studland Knoll House - Wessex Water - Excellent Weymouth Central - Wessex Water - Good Swimfo advises against bathing in these particular waters around England and Wales 5
Yahoo
27-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Bathers urged to check water quality this summer
The Environment Agency is urging bathers to check water quality before taking a dip in rivers and beaches this summer. The agency is taking samples from 451 bathing waters throughout England between 15 May and 30 September - on the look out for levels of two particular types o bacteria. In the East, samples will be taken from 43 bathing spots, from The Wash in Norfolk to West Mersea in Essex - and including the Stour Estuary, the Deben in Waldringfield, Suffolk - and the River Cam in Cambridge. Andrew Raine, the agency's area environment manager, said: "I'm a keen conservationist, keen on wildlife. I'm very keen that we improve further our water quality both in rivers and in bathing waters." He said more than 7,000 water samples were taken each year, with the majority in the East rated excellent. According to the EA, anything above 1,000 colonies per 100ml is poor. Speaking in Sheringham, Norfolk, he said: "In England, 92% of our bathing waters are above the guidelines set by the WHO for safe bathing water swimming." Scientists test for two types of bacteria - E-coli and intestinal enterococci - which can be harmful in large quantities to humans. Samples are taken from 30cm (12in) below the water surface in bathing areas, with the results published within two to five days. In Sheringham the water quality has been rated as excellent in samples taken between 2021 and 2024. So far this year, 15 samples have been collected from this location. However, the agency advises against swimming in three areas in the East: Heacham, in Norfolk, Clacton, in Essex, and at Sheep's Green on the Cam in Cambridge. Sheep's Green was one of 27 sites in England to receive designated bathing water status in May 2024 but is rated as having poor water quality. Mr Raine added: "I wouldn't advise swimming after a heavy downpour as you'll see lots of urban run-off from streets and pavements, you'll see run-off from agricultural land and you also could potentially get sewage spills. "Water companies have done huge investments over the past few years to make sure that that most of the sites around our coast have ultra violet filtration and treatment so that kills 99% of the bacteria. "If bacteria has got into the water, it can still have an impact." He said people should also consider if the beach they are visiting has Blue Flag status. You can check bathing water quality on the Environment Agency's Swimfo website Follow East of England news on X, Instagram and Facebook: BBC Cambridgeshire, BBC Essex, BBC Norfolk, or BBC Suffolk. City swimmers call for river pollution checks Bathing spot fails to meet water quality standard Wild swimmers celebrate bathing water status Sharp rise in bathing sites rated unfit for swimming Environment Agency
The Independent
13-05-2025
- The Independent
Revealed: England's worst beaches for water quality
The dirtiest beaches in England have been revealed based on water quality, including coastal spots in some of the country's most popular holiday hotspots such as Cornwall and Devon. The UK's Environment Agency tests England 's bathing waters every year by taking samples in the summer to build up an assessment of the water quality, providing them with a classification from 'excellent' to 'poor'. The classifications are based on the analysis of samples taken over a four-year period. The Environment Agency tests the samples for bacteria to indicate if there is faecal matter in the water, which could come from sewage, livestock, wildlife, birds and road drainage. If bathing water is classified as poor, then a sign advising against bathing will be displayed, yet the beach will remain open for people to use at their leisure. In the 2024 study of all 455 bathing waters across England, 37 were classed as poor, and out of that group 19 were beaches. Among those on the list were Porthluney in Cornwall, Lyme Regis Church Cliff Beach in Dorset and Bunster Beach in Somerset. Further up north, Tynemouth Cullercoats in Tyne and Wear, Scarborough South Bay in North Yorkshire and Blackpool North in Lancashire landed in the 'poor' category. Holiday Park Guru completed a further analysis of the Environment Agency's data, what they call its 'Brown Flag Awards' for 2025, and found that Lancashire actually ranks last as a county, since none of its bathing spots are yet to gain an 'excellent' rating. Meanwhile, more than 90 per cent of Northumberland's beaches achieved the highest category for water cleanliness. Despite having beaches on the poor quality list, Dorset, Devon, and Cornwall are highly rated, too. However, Somerset, Cumbria, Merseyside and Kent are all counties that have less than desirable water quality at their bathing spots. The publication also found that the Isle of Wight, County Durham, Lincolnshire and Suffolk saw all of their designated bathing areas gaining one of the top two ratings ('good' or 'excellent'). The Environment Agency has made its data public so bathers can make informed choices about where to relax and swim, as well as see what beaches are doing to improve their water quality. As bathing spots are ever-changing, water pollution can be temporarily reduced, as rainfall, tides, weather and the season can all impact its quality. England's beaches with a 'poor' water quality rating in 2024 Porthluney in Cornwall Coastguards Beach, Erme Estuary in Devon Lyme Regis Church Cliff Beach in Dorset Southsea East in Hampshire Deal Castle in Kent Dymchurch in Kent Littlestone in Kent Blackpool North in Lancashire St Annes North in Lancashire Heacham in Norfolk Weston Main, Weston Super Mare Sand Bay and Weston Super Mare Uphill Slipway in Somerset Dunster Beach in Somerset Blue Anchor West in Somerset Bognor Regis, Aldwick in Sussex Worthing Beach House in Sussex Tynemouth Cullercoats in Tyne and Wear Littlehaven Beach in Tyne and Wear Scarborough South Bay in North Yorkshire
The Independent
09-05-2025
- The Independent
The beaches with the worst water quality in England revealed
The dirtiest beaches in England have been revealed based on water quality, including coastal spots in some of the country's most popular holiday hotspots such as Cornwall and Devon. The UK's Environment Agency tests England 's bathing waters every year by taking samples in the summer to build up an assessment of the water quality, providing them with a classification from 'excellent' to 'poor'. The classifications are based on the analysis of samples taken over a four-year period. The Environment Agency tests the samples for bacteria to indicate if there is faecal matter in the water, which could come from sewage, livestock, wildlife, birds and road drainage. If bathing water is classified as poor, then a sign advising against bathing will be displayed, yet the beach will remain open for people to use at their leisure. In the 2024 study of all 455 bathing waters across England, 37 were classed as poor, and out of that group 19 were beaches. Among those on the list were Porthluney in Cornwall, Lyme Regis Church Cliff Beach in Dorset and Bunster Beach in Somerset. Further up north, Tynemouth Cullercoats in Tyne and Wear, Scarborough South Bay in North Yorkshire and Blackpool North in Lancashire landed in the 'poor' category. Holiday Park Guru completed a further analysis of the Environment Agency's data, what they call its 'Brown Flag Awards' for 2025, and found that Lancashire actually ranks last as a county, since none of its bathing spots are yet to gain an 'excellent' rating. Meanwhile, more than 90 per cent of Northumberland's beaches achieved the highest category for water cleanliness. Despite having beaches on the poor quality list, Dorset, Devon, and Cornwall are highly rated, too. However, Somerset, Cumbria, Merseyside and Kent are all counties that have less than desirable water quality at their bathing spots. The publication also found that the Isle of Wight, County Durham, Lincolnshire and Suffolk saw all of their designated bathing areas gaining one of the top two ratings ('good' or 'excellent'). The Environment Agency has made its data public so bathers can make informed choices about where to relax and swim, as well as see what beaches are doing to improve their water quality. As bathing spots are ever-changing, water pollution can be temporarily reduced, as rainfall, tides, weather and the season can all impact its quality. England's beaches with a 'poor' water quality rating in 2024 Porthluney in Cornwall Coastguards Beach, Erme Estuary in Devon Lyme Regis Church Cliff Beach in Dorset Southsea East in Hampshire Deal Castle in Kent Dymchurch in Kent Littlestone in Kent Blackpool North in Lancashire St Annes North in Lancashire Heacham in Norfolk Weston Main, Weston Super Mare Sand Bay and Weston Super Mare Uphill Slipway in Somerset Dunster Beach in Somerset Blue Anchor West in Somerset Bognor Regis, Aldwick in Sussex Worthing Beach House in Sussex Tynemouth Cullercoats in Tyne and Wear Littlehaven Beach in Tyne and Wear Scarborough South Bay in North Yorkshire
