sewage

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

Anstey’s Cove, Torquay – South West Water – Excellent

Berrow North of Unity Farm – South West Water – Good

Booby’s Bay – South West Water – Excellent

Bovisand – South West Water – Excellent

Brean – South West Water – Excellent

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 – Currently closed

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

Wherry Town – South West Water – Excellent

Goring Beach – Southern Water – Good

Rottingdean Beach – Southern Water – Excellent

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 – Good

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

WHO doesn’t love a trip to the British seaside on a sunny day? That is, as long as the water is clean.

With temperatures hitting highs of 30C this weekend, Brits will be flocking to the coastline to enjoy the weather at some of our best beaches – but before you dive in headfirst, make sure it’s safe for swimming.

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While most beaches are absolutely fine to have a paddle – there are some that you absolutely do not want to swim in because of bad water quality and even sewage spills.

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.

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In most cases these symptoms are mild and resolve on their own – but some cases can be severe and result in hospitalisation.

Channel 4 even did a recent three-part series called Dirty Business based on the investigation into England’s systemic sewage pollution crisis.

The series exposes widespread, illegal raw sewage discharges into UK waterways and the failure of privatised water companies to properly manage environmental regulation.

So, before you go swimming this weekend, and later this summer – it’s important to do some checks first.

Live sewage spills

The best place to check if bathing water has been recently affected by sewage spills is with Surfers Against Sewage (SAS).

The marine conservation and campaigning charity is fighting to keep our favourite swim spots clean.

On their website, you can see which bathing water has been recently affected by sewage as it updates a map with live discharge information.

Louise Reddy, Senior Policy Officer at Surfers Against Sewage told Sun Travel: “If you’re heading to the beach or planning on taking a dip in a lake or river, check the Safer Seas and Rivers Service app.

“This is the UK’s only real-time water quality information service ensuring thousands of water users around the UK can check for pollution alerts, and make an informed choice about entering the water. You can download the app, or view pollution alerts on the web version.

“We shouldn’t need to check for sewage alerts before diving in, however the grim reality is that rain or shine, water companies are dumping sewage into our wild waters, whilst paying out profits to shareholders.

“That’s why we are demanding that the Government takes the bold action needed to restructure the water industry, removing the profit motive and changing the system so it operates for people and the planet.”

Water quality

Swimfo on the government website allows you to look up details of a designated bathing water by name or location and see the quality of its waters.

These are then classified and from best to worst these are “excellent”, “good”, “sufficient” or “poor”.

Where water quality is poor, the water it has a marker along with the words, “Bathing is not advised”.

Be aware, however, that this is based on testing from last year.

Water testing for 2026 will be undertaken 20 times between May 15 and September 30.

If you’re heading to beaches not in England, information about bathing water quality in other countries in the UK can be found here: Scotland (SEPA), Wales (NRW), or Northern Ireland (DAERA)

Blue Flag beaches

Across the country, the ‘Blue Flag’ is awarded to swimming spots that are clean, safe, and well-managed.

These were announced two days ago with a total of 61 sites including beaches, a marina and an inland water bathing area have been awarded the accolade.

If you’re heading to a Blue Flag spot this weekend like Whitley Bay, Southwold or Botany Bay, the flag should be flying.

It’s recognisable as a vibrant blue flag with a distinct white circle in the middle and what looks like a blue wave inside.

But there are some instances in which the flag is revoked – for example if water quality drops below the strict standard.

So if you don’t see it on your trip to the seaside, check online to find out why.

Other flags

When you get to the beach, check around for other flags which will advise on safety.

If you visit a lifeguarded beach, there will be flags on the beach to show you where it’s safe to swim.

If you’re planning to swim or bodyboard, stay between the red-and-yellow flags as that is where lifeguards are on duty.

A solid red flags means ‘Dangerous conditions: do not enter the water.’

And of course if the beach or bathing water isn’t lifeguarded make sure to take extra safety precautions.

Check for further safety tips on the RNLI website.