SWIMMING warnings have been issued for over 40 seaside hotspots in the UK this weekend.
Brits have been urged to refrain from swimming in locations across the country because of raised levels of bacteria.
GOV.ukSwimming warnings have been issued for over 40 seaside hotspots in the UK this weekend[/caption]
Water quality at designated bathing sites in England is assessed by the Environment Agency.
Between May and September each year, they take samples to measure the water quality.
Annual ratings classify each site as excellent, good, sufficient, or poor based on measurements taken over a period of up to four years.
And at a number of sites, daily pollution risk forecasts are issued.
But with temperatures soaring over the weekend and people flocking to beaches, Brits have been urged to not bathe at over 40 sites across the country.
Full list of locations hit by ‘do not swim’ warnings
Littlehaven Beach
Tynemouth Cullercoats
Derwent Water at Crow Park
Coniston Water, Boating Centre
Blackpool North
St Annes North
River Ribble at Edisford Bridge
Wharfe at Cromwheel, Ilkley
Wharfe at Wilderness Carpark
Nidd at the Lido, Knaresborough
Bridlington South Beach
Scarborough South Bay
Heacham
River Severn at Ironbridge
River Severn in Shrewsbury
River Teme in Ludlow
Sheep’s Green, River Cam
Wolvercote Mill Stream
Wallingford Beach, River Thames
Clacton (Groyne 41)
Deal Castle
Littlestone
Dymchurch
Frensham Great Pond
Worthing Beach House
Bognor Regis (Aldwick)
Southsea East
River Avon at Fordingbridge
Lyme Regis Church Cliff Beach
River Frome at Farleigh Hungerford
Burnham Jetty North
Weston-super-Mare Uphill Slipway
Weston Main
River Tone at French Weir Park
Lyme Regis Church Cliff Beach
Blue Anchor West
Ilfracombe Wildersmouth
Instow
Steamer Quay, Dart Estuary
Porthluney
Coastguards Beach, Erme Estuary
Poor water quality
A swathe of locations have been designated poor bathing water quality with advise urging people against getting into the waters.
For example, Heacham Beach has been classified as poor quality since 2021 by the Environment Agency, with high levels of pollution in the water.
The dirty waters have been credited to animal waste coming from seabirds – as much as 60 per cent – rather than sewage waste.
The bacteria levels are highest in July and August – the peak tourist season – although the reasons are still being discussed.
Suggestions include a lack of rainfall and an increase in tourism.
And experts have warned that it could never be safe to swim in again.
In addition, it’s been advised not to swim in Cullercoats Bay, Tyneside, after it failed to meet the minimum standards for water quality – so it’s best just to frolic on the sand for this one.
And just this week, the Environment Agency issued a stark warning at Hill Head beach, Hampshire, because of a sewage line burst.
Fareham Borough Council confirmed that bathing water from Hill Head to Lee-on-the-Solent has been closed due to “sewage pollution”.
But despite over 40 locations designated as unsafe to swim in, there are still hundreds of other spots across the country for you to dip your toes.
What about the cleanest beaches?
We’ve rounded up some of the UK’s cleanest beaches you can swim in.
Which? has revealed the top six UK beaches with the highest water quality that are perfect for a swim.
Here are more UK beaches, and these three have been named the best in Europe by Tripadvisor this year.
While the UK didn’t bag the top spot, three of our beautiful beaches made it onto the list.
And here is one of England’s most secluded beaches you can now only reach by boat.
Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
