For swimmers & paddlers · Wed, 05 Aug 2026
Looking for a safe outdoor swim?
No sampling points are currently scoring verified-safe for swimmers. 214 are amber, 76 red. Most fail because of recent rainfall, an active spill nearby, or a stale test.
What to do if no spots are scoring green
Use the postcode finder above
It checks every overflow within 5 km of your address — even spots without a recent bacterial test still tell you about active spills.
Switch to all-purpose mode
Our main safe-spots register shows 1 sampling points with all-green chemistry — useful for paddlers and anglers even where bacterial coverage is missing.
Check designated bathing waters
The Environment Agency tests E. coli at designated bathing waters more frequently. The EA Bathing Water Profiles cover ~420 sites with full season data.
Active spills to avoid right now· 9
These are storm overflows currently discharging. Don't swim or paddleboard within 5 km downstream until the discharge has stopped and conditions have settled (typically 48 hours after heavy rain).
- 01→
RIVER TRENT
Severn Trent Water · SVT01679 · spilling for 12 weeks
- 02→
LAVANT
Southern Water · SWS00496 · spilling for 12 weeks
- 03→
RIVER GREAT OUSE (NT)
Anglian Water · AWS00410 · spilling for 44.1 h
- 04→
Claydon Brook
Anglian Water · AWS01511 · spilling for 43.3 h
- 05→
River Machno
Dwr Cymru Welsh Water · Cwm Penmachno WwTW Storm Overflow · spilling for 8.8 h
- 06→
River Tame
United Utilities · UUP00664 · spilling for 5.8 h
- 07→
(S) CROOKED OAK STREAM
South West Water · SBB00109 · spilling for 4.4 h
- 08→
Tributary of Afon Anghof
Dwr Cymru Welsh Water · Puncheston WwTW Storm Overflow · spilling for 1.8 h
- 09→
RIVER FOWEY ESTUARY(E)
South West Water · SBB00199 · spilling for 1.5 h
How “verified safe” works for swimmers
- Bacteria first. We require a recent reading of E. coli, intestinal enterococci, or faecal coliforms — the indicators that determine swim safety.
- Excellent band only. Bacteria must be below the EU Bathing Water Directive “excellent” threshold (E. coli < 500 cfu/100 ml, intestinal enterococci < 200 cfu/100 ml).
- No active spills nearby. Within 5 km, no storm overflow currently discharging. If a recent spill ended in the last 24 hours, the spot is downgraded to caution regardless of test results.
- Recent enough. The bacterial test must be within the last 14 days. Older readings are flagged stale.
Read the full methodology on the About page.