England's cherished coastal spots are facing a severe pollution crisis, with official testing revealing that one in seven designated bathing waters has been rated as polluted. The situation is particularly dire at several famous beaches, where water quality is so poor that swimming is actively discouraged.
Which Beaches Are Most Affected?
Among the most concerning results are several well-known tourist destinations. Scarborough's South Bay, Bognor Regis, and Littlehaven Beach in South Shields all received "poor" ratings in the latest assessments. This classification means health authorities do not recommend entering the water at these locations.
The statistics paint a troubling picture: of 449 designated bathing sites across England, approximately 13% are now considered polluted. Even more alarming is that one in fourteen locations - about 7% - are so contaminated they fall below the minimum standard for safe bathing.
What's Causing the Pollution?
The primary sources of contamination have been clearly identified. Agricultural run-off and sewage discharges from water companies account for almost all pollution in England's waterways. However, the Environment Agency has controversially suggested that "birds and dogs" also contribute to poor water quality.
Water campaigner and former Undertones frontman Feargal Sharkey strongly criticised this position, stating: "The EA has started this thing of blaming seagulls and blaming dogs for pooing on beaches because if they blame water companies at all it's a failure of regulation and that's their fault." He described this approach as "an act of gross incompetence."
Broader Implications for England's Waterways
The testing results reveal that last year represented a particularly low point, with bathing waters being the most polluted since records began in 1991. During the 2023 summer season from May to September, a record 37 locations - representing 8.2% of all tested sites - failed to meet minimum standards.
Despite these challenges, there is some positive news. The data shows that 87% of bathing sites now meet standards for 'excellent' or 'good' classification, representing an improvement compared to 2024 figures. Furthermore, 417 bathing waters (93%) achieved ratings of "excellent", "good" or "sufficient", showing a very slight increase from the previous year.
Looking ahead, government policy changes may limit the designation of new bathing waters. Ministers have announced feasibility tests for any waterways where communities seek bathing water status. If water bodies are deemed too polluted to improve to at least "sufficient" quality, they will not receive designation.
This policy shift is likely to disproportionately affect river sites, as no single stretch of river in England is currently in good overall health. The rivers that already have bathing water status consistently record poor water quality due to sewage and agricultural pollution.
Comparisons with European standards highlight England's particular challenges. Recent research found that England's waterways with bathing status are five times more likely to be polluted than those in the EU, despite using the same measurement framework.
Water minister Emma Hardy commented on government efforts: "Our bathing waters are at the heart of so many communities, and these reforms will help people experience the benefits of our beautiful waters and connect with nature." She emphasised that changes to monitoring would better reflect how people actually use their local rivers, lakes and beaches.
