Bathing & Sea Water Quality
Environment Agency water quality classifications for ten local beaches
Every year the Environment Agency samples England’s designated bathing waters through the May–September bathing season and gives each one an official classification — Excellent, Good, Sufficient or Poor — based on four years of results. It also runs a short-term Pollution Risk Forecast at some sites, which can flag a temporarily elevated risk after heavy rain even at a site with a good long-term record. This page shows both for the same ten beaches used on the Beach Forecast page — handy for swimmers and families, not just boaters.
Click a marker to jump to that beach below.
Calshot
Hampshire
Excellent
2025 classification (based on the last 4 years’ samples)
No current short-term pollution risk warning
Last sampled 16/09/2026
Lee-on-Solent
Hampshire
Excellent
2025 classification (based on the last 4 years’ samples)
No current short-term pollution risk warning
Last sampled 15/09/2026
Eastney (Southsea)
Portsmouth
Good
2025 classification (based on the last 4 years’ samples)
No current short-term pollution risk warning
Most recent recorded advisory on file: (2021-10-09)
Last sampled 21/09/2026
Environment Agency record: “Eastney”
Ryde East
Isle of Wight
Good
2025 classification (based on the last 4 years’ samples)
No current short-term pollution risk warning
Water quality here can be affected after heavy rain — worth checking again if it’s rained heavily in the last day or two.
Last sampled 21/09/2026
Environment Agency record: “Ryde”
Cowes
Isle of Wight
Excellent
2025 classification (based on the last 4 years’ samples)
No current short-term pollution risk warning
Last sampled 15/09/2026
Mudeford Sandbank
Christchurch
Excellent
2025 classification (based on the last 4 years’ samples)
No current short-term pollution risk warning
Last sampled 25/09/2026
Environment Agency record: “Christchurch Mudeford Sandbank East”
Bournemouth (Pier)
Dorset
Excellent
2025 classification (based on the last 4 years’ samples)
No current short-term pollution risk warning
Last sampled 25/09/2026
Environment Agency record: “Bournemouth Pier”
Sandbanks
Poole, Dorset
Excellent
2025 classification (based on the last 4 years’ samples)
No current short-term pollution risk warning
Last sampled 26/09/2026
Environment Agency record: “Poole Sandbanks Peninsular”
Weymouth (Central)
Dorset
Good
2025 classification (based on the last 4 years’ samples)
No current short-term pollution risk warning
Last sampled 24/09/2026
Environment Agency record: “Weymouth Central”
Bognor Regis (East)
West Sussex
Sufficient
2025 classification (based on the last 4 years’ samples)
No current short-term pollution risk warning
Water quality here can be affected after heavy rain — worth checking again if it’s rained heavily in the last day or two.
Last sampled 22/09/2026
Environment Agency record: “Bognor Regis East”
What the ratings mean
Excellent — the highest, cleanest water quality.
Good — generally good water quality.
Sufficient — meets the minimum standard.
Poor — hasn’t met the minimum standard. A sign advising against bathing is displayed, though the beach stays open.
These classifications are based on testing for bacteria linked to sewage, agricultural run-off and other sources over the previous four bathing seasons, so they describe the typical picture rather than the water on any one day. The separate short-term Pollution Risk Forecast (shown on each card above) is the Environment Agency’s day-by-day estimate of temporarily elevated risk, mainly driven by recent rainfall, tides, wind and sunlight.
Source: Environment Agency Bathing Water Quality data (environment.data.gov.uk), published under the Open Government Licence.
See also: Solent & Dorset Beach Forecast • Local Tides • Solent Weather Buoys