Charlestown water quality
REDdesignated bathing water · · South West Water
Charlestown is a designated bathing water in Cornwall, currently rated RED for swimming — Storm overflow discharging within 5 km right now. Incoming/high tide may carry discharge closer to shore. Its latest Environment Agency classification is excellent (2025), and 212 storm-overflow spills were recorded nearby in 2025. Below: live risk, recent spills, official samples, rainfall, tides and nearby reports.
Safe to swim right now?
Avoid — pollution risk
Storm overflow discharging within 5 km right now. Incoming/high tide may carry discharge closer to shore.
South West Water status: Amber · since 2026-10-24 13:31
Do not rely solely on this website for health decisions. Check official alerts and use your own judgement. Seek medical advice if you are unwell.
Current status
Risk: RED Storm overflow discharging within 5 km right now. Incoming/high tide may carry discharge closer to shore.
- Active overflows nearby: 5
- Recent overflows (48h): 20
- Rainfall (48h): 39.1 mm
Official EA classification
excellent (2025)
Latest official sample
2026-09-17 — E.coli 10, enterococci 10 cfu/100ml
Latest independent sample
None published
Pollution & environment data
39.1 mm
Rainfall 48h
71.7 mm
Rainfall 7d
12
Outfalls within 5 km
212
Spills (2025, official)
60
Spills 2026 so far (live)
36
Spills last 30d
high 1.79m
Tide now
Recent storm overflows nearby (30 days)
- 2026-09-29 21:30 · ended~0.3 km
- 2026-09-30 00:02 · ended~0.3 km
- 2026-09-30 00:30 · ended~0.3 km
- 2026-10-24 13:21 · ended~0.4 km
- 2026-10-24 13:46 · ended~0.4 km
- 2026-07-15 11:00 · ended~1.1 km
- 2026-07-17 07:08 · ended~1.1 km
- 2026-09-29 21:08 · ended~1.1 km
In the news nearby
- Water companies in England and Wales explore surge pricing bills during drought · 2026-08-16
- Hove beach trip left woman with parasite and in hospital for weeks after swallowing contaminated seawater · 2026-08-04
- The pretty little united kingdom seaside village that smells so bad locals have abandoned the beach · 2026-09-13
- Rhos on Sea beach dog ban divides readers over toilet fears and rights of owners · 2026-08-25
- South West Water has worst environmental record in England , analysis shows · 2026-08-30
Storm-overflow spills near here, by year (EDM)
Recent spills near here (precise, SWW)
- spill, 43 min2026-10-24 · ~4.0 km
- spill, 29 min2026-10-24 · ~0.4 km
- spill, 106 min2026-10-24 · ~2.7 km
- spill, 146 min2026-10-24 · ~1.1 km
- spill, 14 min2026-10-24 · ~1.1 km
- spill, 320 min2026-10-24 · ~2.9 km
- spill, 12 min2026-10-23 · ~1.1 km
- spill, 95 min2026-10-23 · ~2.9 km
Full spill history near Charlestown
Download CSVEvery storm-overflow discharge Glanmor has recorded within 5 km of Charlestown, newest first.
62 discharge events
| Start | End | Outfall | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-24 13:46 | 2026-10-24 14:15 | winWINSFORD SPST_PSCSOEO_WINSFORD | ~0.4 km |
| 2026-10-24 13:46 | 2026-10-24 14:30 | RIVER PAR | ~4.0 km |
| 2026-10-24 13:21 | 2026-10-24 13:50 | winWINSFORD SPST_PSCSOEO_WINSFORD | ~0.4 km |
| 2026-10-24 13:01 | ongoing | (C) ST AUSTELL BAY | ~2.7 km |
| 2026-10-24 12:01 | ongoing | SANDY RIVER | ~1.1 km |
| 2026-10-24 11:34 | ongoing | SANDY RIVER | ~1.1 km |
| 2026-10-24 09:30 | ongoing | ST AUSTELL RIVER | ~2.9 km |
| 2026-10-24 09:14 | 2026-10-24 09:28 | SANDY RIVER | ~1.1 km |
| 2026-10-24 09:10 | ongoing | ST AUSTELL RIVER | ~2.9 km |
| 2026-10-23 20:30 | 2026-10-23 21:00 | SANDY RIVER | ~1.1 km |
| 2026-10-23 20:15 | 2026-10-23 22:15 | ST AUSTELL RIVER | ~2.9 km |
| 2026-10-23 20:05 | 2026-10-23 20:17 | SANDY RIVER | ~1.1 km |
| 2026-10-23 19:55 | 2026-10-23 22:00 | ST AUSTELL RIVER | ~2.9 km |
| 2026-10-23 06:45 | 2026-10-23 09:01 | (C) ST AUSTELL BAY | ~2.7 km |
| 2026-10-23 06:45 | 2026-10-23 07:45 | SANDY RIVER | ~1.1 km |
| 2026-10-23 06:25 | 2026-10-23 08:46 | (C) ST AUSTELL BAY | ~2.7 km |
| 2026-10-23 06:09 | 2026-10-23 07:36 | SANDY RIVER | ~1.1 km |
| 2026-10-23 04:46 | 2026-10-23 12:16 | ST AUSTELL RIVER | ~2.9 km |
| 2026-10-23 02:39 | 2026-10-23 02:52 | SANDY RIVER | ~1.1 km |
| 2026-10-23 01:30 | 2026-10-23 12:01 | ST AUSTELL RIVER | ~2.9 km |
| 2026-10-23 01:16 | 2026-10-23 11:46 | ST AUSTELL RIVER | ~2.9 km |
| 2026-10-22 23:45 | 2026-10-23 00:45 | ST AUSTELL RIVER | ~2.9 km |
| 2026-10-22 23:32 | 2026-10-23 00:20 | ST AUSTELL RIVER | ~2.9 km |
| 2026-10-22 20:01 | 2026-10-22 22:30 | ST AUSTELL RIVER | ~2.9 km |
| 2026-10-22 19:41 | 2026-10-22 22:15 | ST AUSTELL RIVER | ~2.9 km |
| 2026-10-21 00:15 | 2026-10-21 00:27 | SANDY RIVER | ~1.1 km |
| 2026-09-30 02:30 | 2026-09-30 02:45 | TRIBUTARY OF WHITE RIVER | ~4.6 km |
| 2026-09-30 02:26 | 2026-09-30 02:31 | TRIBUTARY OF WHITE RIVER | ~4.6 km |
| 2026-09-30 00:30 | 2026-09-30 01:15 | ST AUSTELL BAY (C) | ~0.3 km |
| 2026-09-30 00:02 | 2026-09-30 00:55 | ST AUSTELL BAY (C) | ~0.3 km |
| 2026-09-29 22:15 | 2026-09-30 03:15 | ST AUSTELL RIVER | ~2.9 km |
| 2026-09-29 21:48 | 2026-09-30 02:45 | ST AUSTELL RIVER | ~2.9 km |
| 2026-09-29 21:30 | 2026-09-29 23:30 | ST AUSTELL BAY (C) | ~0.3 km |
| 2026-09-29 21:08 | 2026-09-29 21:33 | SANDY RIVER | ~1.1 km |
| 2026-09-08 07:20 | 2026-09-08 08:59 | ST AUSTELL RIVER | ~2.9 km |
| 2026-09-08 03:48 | 2026-09-08 05:55 | ST AUSTELL BAY (C) | ~0.3 km |
| 2026-08-29 10:15 | 2026-08-29 11:00 | ST AUSTELL RIVER | ~2.9 km |
| 2026-08-29 10:03 | 2026-08-29 10:43 | ST AUSTELL RIVER | ~2.9 km |
| 2026-08-29 04:30 | 2026-08-29 05:30 | ST AUSTELL BAY (C) | ~0.3 km |
| 2026-08-29 03:48 | 2026-08-29 05:05 | ST AUSTELL BAY (C) | ~0.3 km |
| 2026-08-27 03:45 | 2026-08-27 04:45 | ST AUSTELL RIVER | ~2.9 km |
| 2026-08-27 03:10 | 2026-08-27 03:43 | ST AUSTELL RIVER | ~2.9 km |
| 2026-08-27 02:33 | 2026-08-27 02:55 | ST AUSTELL BAY (C) | ~0.3 km |
| 2026-07-22 12:38 | 2026-07-22 12:43 | SANDY RIVER | ~1.1 km |
| 2026-07-17 07:08 | ongoing | SANDY RIVER | ~1.1 km |
| 2026-07-15 11:00 | ongoing | SANDY RIVER | ~1.1 km |
| 2026-07-15 10:45 | 2026-07-15 14:30 | SANDY RIVER | ~1.1 km |
| 2026-07-15 10:30 | 2026-07-15 13:45 | SANDY RIVER | ~1.1 km |
| 2026-07-07 12:30 | 2026-07-07 12:45 | TRIBUTARY OF WHITE RIVER | ~4.6 km |
| 2026-07-07 11:35 | 2026-07-07 12:16 | TRIBUTARY OF WHITE RIVER | ~4.6 km |
| 2026-06-10 09:35 | 2026-06-10 09:38 | TRIBUTARY OF WHITE RIVER | ~4.6 km |
| 2026-06-06 07:57 | 2026-06-06 11:45 | ST AUSTELL RIVER | ~2.9 km |
| 2026-06-03 19:53 | 2026-06-03 20:06 | ST AUSTELL BAY (C) | ~0.3 km |
| 2026-05-21 09:48 | 2026-05-21 09:51 | POLGOOTH STREAM | ~4.2 km |
| 2026-05-19 13:54 | 2026-05-19 14:49 | RIVER PAR | ~4.0 km |
| 2026-05-15 09:24 | 2026-05-15 09:25 | ST AUSTELL RIVER(S) | ~3.6 km |
| 2026-05-08 10:24 | 2026-05-08 10:25 | ST BLAZEY STREAM | ~3.9 km |
| 2026-05-01 09:15 | 2026-05-01 09:18 | winWINSFORD SPST_PSCSOEO_WINSFORD | ~0.4 km |
| 2026-02-18 19:40 | 2026-02-18 20:00 | SANDY RIVER | ~1.1 km |
| 2026-02-01 04:16 | 2026-02-01 04:35 | (C) ST AUSTELL BAY | ~2.7 km |
| 2025-12-20 18:38 | 2025-12-20 18:46 | ST AUSTELL RIVER (S) | ~4.8 km |
| 2025-10-23 07:41 | 2025-10-23 07:42 | ST AUSTELL BAY (C) | ~1.3 km |
59 precise spill records (duration & volume)
| When | Detail | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-24 13:22 | spill, 43 min | ~4.0 km |
| 2026-10-24 13:21 | spill, 29 min | ~0.4 km |
| 2026-10-24 12:44 | spill, 106 min | ~2.7 km |
| 2026-10-24 11:34 | spill, 146 min | ~1.1 km |
| 2026-10-24 09:14 | spill, 14 min | ~1.1 km |
| 2026-10-24 09:10 | spill, 320 min | ~2.9 km |
| 2026-10-23 20:05 | spill, 12 min | ~1.1 km |
| 2026-10-23 19:55 | spill, 95 min | ~2.9 km |
| 2026-10-23 06:25 | spill, 128 min | ~2.7 km |
| 2026-10-23 06:09 | spill, 86 min | ~1.1 km |
| 2026-10-23 04:46 | spill, 396 min | ~2.9 km |
| 2026-10-23 02:39 | spill, 13 min | ~1.1 km |
| 2026-10-23 01:16 | spill, 178 min | ~2.9 km |
| 2026-10-22 23:32 | spill, 48 min | ~2.9 km |
| 2026-10-22 19:41 | spill, 129 min | ~2.9 km |
| 2026-10-21 00:15 | spill, 12 min | ~1.1 km |
| 2026-09-30 02:26 | spill, 5 min | ~4.6 km |
| 2026-09-30 00:02 | spill, 53 min | ~0.3 km |
| 2026-09-29 21:48 | spill, 297 min | ~2.9 km |
| 2026-09-29 21:08 | spill, 25 min | ~1.1 km |
| 2026-09-29 21:00 | spill, 123 min | ~0.3 km |
| 2026-09-08 07:20 | spill, 99 min | ~2.9 km |
| 2026-09-08 03:48 | spill, 128 min | ~0.3 km |
| 2026-08-29 10:03 | spill, 40 min | ~2.9 km |
| 2026-08-29 03:48 | spill, 77 min | ~0.3 km |
| 2026-08-27 03:10 | spill, 34 min | ~2.9 km |
| 2026-08-27 02:42 | spill, 19 min | ~2.9 km |
| 2026-08-27 02:33 | spill, 22 min | ~0.3 km |
| 2026-07-22 12:38 | spill, 6 min | ~1.1 km |
| 2026-07-17 07:08 | spill, 7462 min | ~1.1 km |
| 2026-07-15 11:00 | spill, 2490 min | ~1.1 km |
| 2026-07-15 10:30 | spill, 14 min | ~1.1 km |
| 2026-07-07 11:35 | spill, 41 min | ~4.6 km |
| 2026-06-10 09:35 | spill, 2 min | ~4.6 km |
| 2026-06-10 09:35 | spill, 2 min | ~4.6 km |
| 2026-06-06 07:57 | spill, 228 min | ~2.9 km |
| 2026-06-06 07:57 | spill, 228 min | ~2.9 km |
| 2026-06-03 19:53 | spill, 13 min | ~0.3 km |
| 2026-06-03 19:53 | spill, 13 min | ~0.3 km |
| 2026-05-21 09:48 | spill, 2 min | ~4.2 km |
| 2026-05-21 09:48 | spill, 2 min | ~4.2 km |
| 2026-05-19 13:54 | spill, 55 min | ~4.0 km |
| 2026-05-19 13:54 | spill, 55 min | ~4.0 km |
| 2026-05-15 09:24 | spill, 1 min | ~3.6 km |
| 2026-05-15 09:24 | spill, 1 min | ~3.6 km |
| 2026-05-08 10:24 | spill, 1 min | ~3.9 km |
| 2026-05-08 10:24 | spill, 1 min | ~3.9 km |
| 2026-05-01 09:15 | spill, 2 min | ~0.4 km |
| 2026-05-01 09:15 | spill, 2 min | ~0.4 km |
| 2026-02-18 19:40 | spill, 21 min | ~1.1 km |
| 2026-02-18 19:40 | spill, 21 min | ~1.1 km |
| 2026-02-01 04:16 | spill, 20 min | ~2.7 km |
| 2026-02-01 04:16 | spill, 20 min | ~2.7 km |
| 2026-01-08 11:29 | spill, 2 min | ~3.5 km |
| 2026-01-08 11:29 | spill, 2 min | ~3.5 km |
| 2025-12-20 18:38 | spill, 8 min | ~4.8 km |
| 2025-12-20 18:38 | spill, 8 min | ~4.8 km |
| 2025-10-23 07:41 | spill, 1 min | ~1.3 km |
| 2025-10-23 07:41 | spill, 1 min | ~1.3 km |
Water quality — 7-year trend
Water quality improved in 2026: average E. coli was 35% lower than 2025.
| Year | EA classification | Samples | E. coli (geo-mean) | Enterococci (geo-mean) | High readings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | — | 13 | 13 cfu/100ml | 13 cfu/100ml | 0 |
| 2020 | — | 3 | 10 cfu/100ml | 10 cfu/100ml | 0 |
| 2021 | — | 20 | 18 cfu/100ml | 16 cfu/100ml | 1 of 20 |
| 2022 | — | 20 | 13 cfu/100ml | 16 cfu/100ml | 1 of 20 |
| 2023 | — | 20 | 12 cfu/100ml | 11 cfu/100ml | 0 |
| 2024 | — | 15 | 14 cfu/100ml | 12 cfu/100ml | 0 |
| 2025 | excellent | 10 | 15 cfu/100ml | 16 cfu/100ml | 0 |
| 2026 | — | 10 | 10 cfu/100ml | 10 cfu/100ml | 0 |
Geometric mean of Environment Agency samples per calendar year (the standard bathing-water statistic). "High readings" are samples at or above 500 E. coli or 200 enterococci cfu/100ml.
Charlestown — frequently asked questions
Is it safe to swim at Charlestown today?
Charlestown is currently rated RED: Storm overflow discharging within 5 km right now. Incoming/high tide may carry discharge closer to shore. This is guidance only — also check official alerts and use your judgement.
Has there been a sewage spill near Charlestown?
212 storm-overflow spills were recorded near Charlestown in 2025 (EA Event Duration Monitoring), and 60 spill events have been logged nearby so far this year.
What is Charlestown's bathing water classification?
Charlestown is classified excellent for 2025 by the Environment Agency.
Data & provenance
- Last updated
- 8 min ago (2026-10-24 15:00 UTC)
- Sources
- Environment Agency (samples & classification), South West Water (overflows), EA EDM (annual spills), Open-Meteo (rainfall & tide). Full list on about.
- Confidence
- High — official classification, 12 outfalls monitored within 5 km.
- Risk model
- v0.4
- Download
- Sample timeline (JSON) · All beaches (CSV)
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