Bathing sites in Adur retain strong classifications
Released: Wednesday, 26 November 2025
Bathing water sites in Adur have retained their strong classifications, making the district a top summertime destination to enjoy water-based activities.
The Environment Agency has published the classifications for the nation’s bathing water sites, which are designated areas where the government body tests coastlines and inland waters from May to September.
Its samples have seen three coastal locations across the district tested for potentially harmful bacteria again this year - monitoring which helps protect public health and identify any areas where seawater quality needs to be improved.
Southwick Beach and Shoreham Beach both received ‘excellent’ classifications this year, while Lancing Beach Green has been classified as ‘good’. Each bathing site in the district received the same status last year.
Photo: Shoreham Beach Local Nature Reserve
Adur District Council is pleased with the classifications and looks forward to continuing its work with the Environment Agency and Southern Water, its partners primarily responsible for seawater quality, to further improve the standard of its coastal waters.
Councillor Andy Harvey, Adur’s cabinet member for the environment and leisure, said:
“I’m very pleased that our district has retained its three strong bathing classifications.
“We know that as a collective, more can always be done to improve the standard of our coastal waters, which are not only enjoyed by thousands of people each year, but are hugely important for nature and the wider environment.
“I look forward to continuing our work with the Environment Agency and Southern Water to raise awareness of the many different sources of pollution that can impact the beautiful stretch of coastline right on our doorstep.”
This summer, the council and its partners launched the Yellow Fish campaign in Adur, which aims to highlight how pollution of road surface drains can directly impact coastal water quality.
As a result of the campaign, stickers and signs featuring yellow fish and the catchphrase “only rain down the drain” have been positioned beside the area’s road surface drains that are believed to be affected by third-party contamination.
Photo: Cllr Harvey placing a Yellow Fish sticker beside a road surface drain in Shoreham
Road surface drains are designed to only transport rainwater, and are linked to the sea via outlet pipes along the foreshore. Any chemicals or litter, whether it be paint, dog poo or fluid waste from campervans, therefore directly impacts local water quality.
The council and its partners hope that the campaign is raising awareness that any kind of water entering the system will directly contaminate the natural environment.
To find out more about the area's bathing water sites, visit:
Photo: Kite surfers on Lancing Beach
(PR25-094)
Page last updated: 26 November 2025