Research and analysis

Bathing water quality compliance reports

Monitoring reports showing if designated bathing waters in England meet regulatory standards and how they've been classified.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Published: 14 November 2017
• Last updated: 25 November 2025
  Show all updates

  1. 25 November 2025

     The bathing water classifications for 2025 have been attached.

  2. 26 November 2024

     Added the bathing water classifications for 2024.

  3. 1 December 2023

     Added the bathing water classifications for 2023.

  4. 30 November 2022

     Added the bathing water classifications for 2022.

  5. 19 January 2022

     Added the 2021 compliance report.

  6. 11 June 2021

     Updated entries in the 2019 Bathing water classifications: 09000 Cleethorpes- from Good to Excellent and 09600 Ingoldmells South - from Good to Excellent.

  7. 13 November 2019

     Added the 2019 compliance report.

  8. 12 December 2018

     2018 compliance report updated to correct the classification for Southend Three Shells from “Good” to “Excellent".

  9. 15 November 2018

     Added the 2018 compliance report.

  10. 1 May 2018

      2017 compliance report updated to correct the classification for Crackington Haven from “Good” to “Excellent".

  11. 14 November 2017

      First published.

Documents

Bathing water classifications 2025

HTML

Bathing water classifications 2024

HTML

Bathing water classifications 2023

HTML

Bathing water classifications 2022

HTML

Bathing water classifications 2021

Ref: PB14712

HTML

Bathing water classifications 2019

Ref: PB14596

HTML

Bathing water classifications 2018

Ref: PB14541

HTML

Bathing water classifications 2017

Ref: PB14487

PDF, 601 KB, 11 pages

Bathing water classifications 2016

PDF, 478 KB, 11 pages

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Bathing water classifications 2015

PDF, 124 KB, 12 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format

If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email defra.helpline@defra.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Details

The Environment Agency closely monitors beaches and inland waters that are designated bathing waters to check that standards are being maintained.

They must publish the official statistics and classifications awarded.

Bathing waters can be classified as ‘excellent’, ‘good’, ‘sufficient’ or ‘poor’.