Bathing water quality - Seawater
We work with other agencies, including Southern Water and the Environment Agency, to protect and improve the quality of our coastal bathing waters. For details see:
Find out about our bathing waters and what we are doing to improve them:
What are designated bathing water sites?
Bathing waters are specific locations where the Environment Agency regularly samples the seawater, between May and September each year, to see how clean it is.
Sites are awarded bathing water designation by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), following a successful application and public consultation.
To receive designation, sites must have evidence of at least 100 bathers visiting a day during the bathing season, which runs from 15th May to 30th September. It must also have toilet facilities nearby that bathers can use during the summer months.
How is bathing water quality monitored?
The Environment Agency's seawater samples are analysed and the results are used to help classify the bathing water quality as either Excellent, Good, Sufficient or Poor. This regular monitoring helps protect public health and identify any areas where seawater quality needs to be improved.
What is measured?
The Environment Agency primarily samples for Escherichia coli (E.coli) and Intestinal Enterococci. These bacteria are found in the intestines of humans and animals. Their presence indicates that human or animal faeces may be in the bathing water, which could pose health risks to bathers.
Where are samples taken in Adur and Worthing?
Samples are collected from six designated waters along the Adur and Worthing coastline. Each sampling site may be identified by a public information sign, found at the following locations:
Lancing, Beach Green
Bathing water quality: GOOD
Bathing water quality at Lancing can be affected by the River Adur and the Teville Stream, particularly after heavy rainfall. There is also a surface water outfall to the eastern side of the beach which operates after heavy rainfall, but is not known to affect water quality. Large amounts of seaweed can often be found here.
Location: on the coastal path, opposite the beach kiosk.
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Shoreham Beach
Bathing water quality: EXCELLENT
Bathing water quality at Shoreham Beach can be affected by the River Adur that enters the sea at Shoreham Harbour, east of the bathing water, particularly after rainfall. Surface water outfalls near Lancing operate after heavy rainfall, but these are not known to affect bathing water quality. This beach can become covered by large amounts of seaweed.
Location: on the boardwalk, south of Ferry Road.
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Southwick
Bathing water quality: EXCELLENT
Water quality at Southwick can be affected by the River Adur that enters the sea west of the bathing water at Shoreham Harbour, particularly after rainfall. A power plant outfall discharges cooling water to the east of the beach and there are a number of other industrial off-shore outfalls along this section of coast. None of these are known to affect bathing water quality at Southwick.
Location: at the car park steps, next to Carats Café.
- Southwick bathing water profile (water quality results and maps) - on the Environment Agency website
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Worthing Beach House
Bathing water quality: POOR
Bathing water quality at Worthing Beach House may be affected by surface water and urban drainage during and after heavy rainfall.
Location: on the promenade, behind Splashpoint Leisure Centre.
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Goring Beach (Worthing)
Bathing water quality: SUFFICIENT
Bathing water quality at Goring Beach may be affected by surface water and urban drainage during and after heavy rainfall.
Location: on the promenade, beside Marine Crescent seating shelter.
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Worthing (Heene Road)
Bathing water quality: SUFFICIENT
Bathing water quality at Worthing can be affected by surface water and urban drainage during and after heavy rainfall.
Location: on the promenade, opposite Heene Road.
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What is being done to improve seawater quality?
We are working collectively with the Environment Agency, Southern Water and West Sussex County Council to identify and resolve sources of pollution.
The Environment Agency plays a central role in monitoring, assessing and classifying bathing waters across England, including those in Adur and Worthing. It conducts regular seawater samples during the bathing season and investigates sources of pollution, along with stakeholders, to identify and address issues.
Southern Water, as the company responsible for providing water and wastewater services in the region, also holds a significant responsibility to help improve the quality of our bathing waters. It’s conducting ‘misconnection’ investigations across the catchment areas and has produced improvement plans involving detailed investigations into its assets (including sewers) as potential sources of pollution.
Has there been any improvement?
Collaboration between the council, the Environment Agency and Southern Water has successfully identified some sources of pollution.
One example of success is in Worthing, where a source of contamination near the Worthing Beach House bathing site, one of the two newest bathing waters in the area, has been fixed.
By tracing a sign of pollution back, Southern Water identified that the area's surface water system, which transports rainwater to the sea, was being unknowingly contaminated with foul water by a local property. The owner worked with the water company to quickly correct the historic misconnection.
A second example includes the discovery of a collapsed sewer near the Worthing Beach House bathing site - which has now been fixed.
Investigations are ongoing to identify the sources of pollution at all our sites.
Why are some bathing waters classified as worse than others?
After one season of testing in 2024, during which around 20 samples were collected, the Environment Agency classified the seawater at Worthing Beach House as 'Poor'. There are a number of possible reasons why the site classified lower than others, including:
- Damaged sewers
- Infrastructure problems with pumping stations or overflows
- Misconnected foul drains - when domestic or businesses (washing machines, toilets) are accidentally plumbed into surface drainage
- Animal or bird poo entering the sea via surface drainage or by being left on the beach
Pollution risk forecasts
In the event of a 'pollution risk forecast' - a predicted risk of reduced water quality, due to heavy rain or potential contamination - signs will be displayed at Lancing, Worthing and Worthing Beach House.
Results obtained throughout the 2024 bathing season has seen Worthing Beach House classified 'Poor'. Irrespective of the daily pollution risk forecast, bathing at Worthing Beach House is not advised on any day until this classification is reviewed in November 2025.
Environment Agency pollution risk forecasts:
These forecast predictions are updated from 1st May to 30th September.
- Lancing, Beach Green:
11/07/25 8:30am - No warnings in place (Expires: 12/07/25 8:29am) - Worthing:
11/07/25 8:30am - No warnings in place (Expires: 12/07/25 8:29am) - Worthing Beach House:
11/07/25 8:30am - No warnings in place (Expires: 12/07/25 8:29am)
Is bathing banned at sites with a 'poor' classification?
No, beaches with a 'poor' classification remain open and accessible as normal. The 2006 Bathing Water Directive means that 'poor' rated bathing waters, such as Worthing Beach House, are legally obliged to display an 'advice against bathing' symbol, helping swimmers make informed decisions about swimming in the area.
Is it safe to collect and eat shellfish?
There are no designated shellfisheries around Adur and Worthing and as such no sampling is undertaken to assess the suitability of shellfish for consumption. It is illegal to gather shellfish on the River Adur. See:
See also:
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Page last updated: 08 July 2025