Environment Agency - Home

Bathing water quality

Bathing water quality in England has improved significantly over the last 20 years. Find out what the water quality is like at your favourite beach and how we are working to improve it.

Latest water quality results from the bathing water data explorer

There are over 400 coastal and inland bathing waters in England. We test each bathing water 20 times during the bathing water season from 15 May to 30 September.  

How we monitor bathing water quality

How we monitor bathing water quality and what you can do to help prevent pollution.

Bathing water controllers - what you need to do

Providing information to the public and improving bathing water quality to meet the stricter revised Bathing Water Directive which comes into force in 2015.