Great Western water quality

RED

designated bathing water · · South West Water

Great Western 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 178 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.

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: 3
Recent overflows (48h): 15
Rainfall (48h): 32.2 mm

Official EA classification

excellent (2025)

Latest official sample

2026-09-24 — E.coli 10, enterococci 10 cfu/100ml

Latest independent sample

None published

Pollution & environment data

32.2 mm

Rainfall 48h

61.3 mm

Rainfall 7d

Outfalls within 5 km

178

Spills (2025, official)

Spills 2026 so far (live)

Spills last 30d

high 2.76m

Tide now

Recent storm overflows nearby (30 days)

In the news nearby

Why some storm overflow alerts may not mean a spill · 2026-08-25
Hundreds of tourists are falling sick after visiting some of the best beaches in the country , new figures show · 2026-08-08
Mum of girl , 8 , who died of E . coli slams South West Water over sewage spill revelations · 2026-08-20
West Dorset MP attacks water company over drought crisis · 2026-10-21
South West Water told to fix the leak as it introduces hosepipe ban · 2026-08-07
3 pollution threats deadlier than climate change in Asia · 2026-10-01

Storm-overflow spills near here, by year (EDM)

Recent spills near here (precise, SWW)

spill, 102 min2026-10-24 · ~2.5 km
spill, 34 min2026-10-24 · ~1.8 km
spill, 109 min2026-10-24 · ~1.8 km
spill, 2 min2026-10-24 · ~1.8 km
spill, 2 min2026-10-23 · ~1.8 km
spill, 6 min2026-10-23 · ~1.8 km
spill, 119 min2026-10-22 · ~1.8 km
spill, 4 min2026-10-22 · ~1.8 km

Full spill history near Great Western

Download CSV

Every storm-overflow discharge Glanmor has recorded within 5 km of Great Western, newest first.

69 discharge events

Start	End	Outfall	Distance
2026-10-24 13:16	ongoing	ATLANTIC OCEAN (C)	~2.5 km
2026-10-24 13:01	ongoing	ATLANTIC OCEAN(T)	~1.8 km
2026-10-24 13:01	2026-10-24 13:46	UNNAMED DITCH,TRENANCE LAKE(S)	~1.8 km
2026-10-24 12:47	2026-10-24 15:01	ATLANTIC OCEAN (C)	~2.5 km
2026-10-24 12:40	ongoing	ATLANTIC OCEAN(T)	~1.8 km
2026-10-24 00:02	2026-10-24 00:04	UNNAMED DITCH,TRENANCE LAKE(S)	~1.8 km
2026-10-23 13:00	2026-10-23 13:02	UNNAMED DITCH,TRENANCE LAKE(S)	~1.8 km
2026-10-23 04:50	2026-10-23 04:56	UNNAMED DITCH,TRENANCE LAKE(S)	~1.8 km
2026-10-23 00:00	2026-10-23 02:00	ATLANTIC OCEAN(T)	~1.8 km
2026-10-22 23:34	2026-10-23 01:45	ATLANTIC OCEAN(T)	~1.8 km
2026-10-22 20:16	2026-10-22 23:15	ATLANTIC OCEAN(T)	~1.8 km
2026-10-22 20:16	2026-10-22 21:30	ATLANTIC OCEAN (C)	~2.5 km
2026-10-22 20:16	2026-10-22 20:31	UNNAMED DITCH,TRENANCE LAKE(S)	~1.8 km
2026-10-22 20:04	2026-10-22 20:08	UNNAMED DITCH,TRENANCE LAKE(S)	~1.8 km
2026-10-22 20:00	2026-10-22 21:13	ATLANTIC OCEAN (C)	~2.5 km
2026-10-22 19:48	2026-10-22 23:00	ATLANTIC OCEAN(T)	~1.8 km
2026-10-22 19:46	2026-10-22 20:01	UNNAMED DITCH,TRENANCE LAKE(S)	~1.8 km
2026-10-22 16:58	2026-10-22 17:02	UNNAMED DITCH,TRENANCE LAKE(S)	~1.8 km
2026-10-21 20:20	2026-10-21 20:22	UNNAMED DITCH,TRENANCE LAKE(S)	~1.8 km
2026-10-21 17:04	2026-10-21 17:06	UNNAMED DITCH,TRENANCE LAKE(S)	~1.8 km
2026-10-21 12:48	2026-10-21 12:50	UNNAMED DITCH,TRENANCE LAKE(S)	~1.8 km
2026-10-21 11:01	2026-10-21 11:17	UNNAMED DITCH,TRENANCE LAKE(S)	~1.8 km
2026-10-21 10:48	2026-10-21 10:50	UNNAMED DITCH,TRENANCE LAKE(S)	~1.8 km
2026-10-21 08:31	2026-10-21 08:46	UNNAMED DITCH,TRENANCE LAKE(S)	~1.8 km
2026-10-21 02:15	2026-10-21 02:30	ATLANTIC OCEAN(T)	~1.8 km
2026-10-21 01:58	2026-10-21 02:16	ATLANTIC OCEAN(T)	~1.8 km
2026-10-20 23:45	2026-10-21 00:00	UNNAMED DITCH,TRENANCE LAKE(S)	~1.8 km
2026-10-17 07:54	2026-10-17 07:56	UNNAMED DITCH,TRENANCE LAKE(S)	~1.8 km
2026-10-15 22:15	2026-10-16 02:15	ATLANTIC OCEAN(T)	~1.8 km
2026-10-15 21:47	2026-10-16 02:00	ATLANTIC OCEAN(T)	~1.8 km
2026-10-15 21:45	2026-10-15 23:45	ATLANTIC OCEAN (C)	~2.5 km
2026-10-15 21:29	2026-10-15 23:30	ATLANTIC OCEAN (C)	~2.5 km
2026-10-15 21:15	2026-10-15 21:30	RIVER GANNEL (S)	~2.7 km
2026-10-15 21:01	2026-10-15 21:30	UNNAMED DITCH,TRENANCE LAKE(S)	~1.8 km
2026-10-15 20:51	2026-10-15 21:02	RIVER GANNEL (S)	~2.7 km
2026-10-15 20:46	2026-10-15 21:16	UNNAMED DITCH,TRENANCE LAKE(S)	~1.8 km
2026-10-01 08:45	2026-10-01 09:00	UNNAMED DITCH,TRENANCE LAKE(S)	~1.8 km
2026-10-01 08:44	2026-10-01 08:46	UNNAMED DITCH,TRENANCE LAKE(S)	~1.8 km
2026-09-30 01:40	2026-09-30 01:46	UNNAMED DITCH,TRENANCE LAKE(S)	~1.8 km
2026-09-29 21:34	2026-09-29 21:46	ATLANTIC OCEAN (C)	~2.5 km
2026-09-29 21:15	2026-09-30 00:30	ATLANTIC OCEAN(T)	~1.8 km
2026-09-29 21:00	2026-09-30 00:13	ATLANTIC OCEAN(T)	~1.8 km
2026-09-29 21:00	2026-09-29 21:45	ATLANTIC OCEAN (C)	~2.5 km
2026-09-29 20:04	2026-09-29 20:10	UNNAMED DITCH,TRENANCE LAKE(S)	~1.8 km
2026-09-29 20:01	2026-09-29 20:30	UNNAMED DITCH,TRENANCE LAKE(S)	~1.8 km
2026-09-15 14:52	2026-09-15 14:58	UNNAMED DITCH,TRENANCE LAKE(S)	~1.8 km
2026-09-08 03:19	2026-09-08 04:18	ATLANTIC OCEAN (C)	~2.5 km
2026-09-08 02:30	2026-09-08 02:30	ATLANTIC OCEAN(T)	~1.8 km
2026-09-08 02:16	2026-09-08 06:28	ATLANTIC OCEAN(T)	~1.8 km
2026-09-07 21:42	2026-09-07 21:46	UNNAMED DITCH,TRENANCE LAKE(S)	~1.8 km
2026-08-30 12:26	2026-08-30 12:30	UNNAMED DITCH,TRENANCE LAKE(S)	~1.8 km
2026-08-29 08:10	2026-08-29 09:33	ATLANTIC OCEAN(T)	~1.8 km
2026-08-29 06:45	2026-08-29 10:15	ATLANTIC OCEAN(T)	~1.8 km
2026-08-29 05:30	2026-08-29 06:30	ATLANTIC OCEAN (C)	~2.5 km
2026-08-29 04:56	2026-08-29 05:58	ATLANTIC OCEAN (C)	~2.5 km
2026-08-29 04:45	2026-08-29 05:30	ATLANTIC OCEAN(T)	~1.8 km
2026-08-29 04:44	2026-08-29 04:48	UNNAMED DITCH,TRENANCE LAKE(S)	~1.8 km
2026-08-29 04:30	2026-08-29 04:45	UNNAMED DITCH,TRENANCE LAKE(S)	~1.8 km
2026-08-27 02:30	2026-08-27 03:45	UNNAMED DITCH,TRENANCE LAKE(S)	~1.8 km
2026-08-27 02:28	2026-08-27 02:34	UNNAMED DITCH,TRENANCE LAKE(S)	~1.8 km
2026-08-19 04:42	2026-08-19 05:15	UNNAMED DITCH,TRENANCE LAKE(S)	~1.8 km
2026-06-19 23:48	2026-06-19 23:58	UNNAMED DITCH,TRENANCE LAKE(S)	~1.8 km
2026-06-18 02:26	2026-06-18 04:19	TRIB OF PORTH JOKE	~4.2 km
2026-05-22 16:31	2026-05-22 16:36	ATLANTIC OCEAN (C)	~2.5 km
2026-05-03 17:29	2026-05-03 18:59	ATLANTIC OCEAN(T)	~1.8 km
2026-05-03 13:42	2026-05-03 14:14	RIVER GANNEL (S)	~2.7 km
2026-03-03 13:37	2026-03-03 13:50	NEWQUAY BAY (C)	~0.8 km
2026-02-27 21:40	2026-03-06 03:58	STREAM/ATLANTIC OCEAN (S)	~4.1 km
2026-02-01 22:54	2026-02-01 22:58	CRANTOCK BEACH (C)	~2.8 km

67 precise spill records (duration & volume)

When	Detail	Distance
2026-10-24 12:47	spill, 102 min	~2.5 km
2026-10-24 12:46	spill, 34 min	~1.8 km
2026-10-24 12:40	spill, 109 min	~1.8 km
2026-10-24 00:02	spill, 2 min	~1.8 km
2026-10-23 13:00	spill, 2 min	~1.8 km
2026-10-23 04:50	spill, 6 min	~1.8 km
2026-10-22 23:34	spill, 119 min	~1.8 km
2026-10-22 20:04	spill, 4 min	~1.8 km
2026-10-22 20:00	spill, 73 min	~2.5 km
2026-10-22 19:48	spill, 169 min	~1.8 km
2026-10-22 19:38	spill, 4 min	~1.8 km
2026-10-22 16:58	spill, 4 min	~1.8 km
2026-10-21 20:20	spill, 2 min	~1.8 km
2026-10-21 17:04	spill, 2 min	~1.8 km
2026-10-21 16:10	spill, 2 min	~1.8 km
2026-10-21 15:42	spill, 2 min	~1.8 km
2026-10-21 15:24	spill, 2 min	~1.8 km
2026-10-21 12:48	spill, 2 min	~1.8 km
2026-10-21 12:24	spill, 2 min	~1.8 km
2026-10-21 10:48	spill, 2 min	~1.8 km
2026-10-21 09:46	spill, 2 min	~1.8 km
2026-10-21 08:12	spill, 2 min	~1.8 km
2026-10-21 06:40	spill, 2 min	~1.8 km
2026-10-21 01:58	spill, 18 min	~1.8 km
2026-10-20 23:24	spill, 20 min	~1.8 km
2026-10-17 07:54	spill, 2 min	~1.8 km
2026-10-15 21:47	spill, 238 min	~1.8 km
2026-10-15 21:29	spill, 90 min	~2.5 km
2026-10-15 20:51	spill, 12 min	~2.7 km
2026-10-15 20:46	spill, 30 min	~1.8 km
2026-10-01 08:44	spill, 2 min	~1.8 km
2026-10-01 04:48	spill, 10 min	~1.8 km
2026-10-01 04:42	spill, 2 min	~1.8 km
2026-09-30 01:40	spill, 6 min	~1.8 km
2026-09-29 21:34	spill, 12 min	~2.5 km
2026-09-29 21:00	spill, 193 min	~1.8 km
2026-09-29 20:04	spill, 6 min	~1.8 km
2026-09-15 14:52	spill, 6 min	~1.8 km
2026-09-15 13:34	spill, 11 min	~2.0 km
2026-09-08 03:19	spill, 59 min	~2.5 km
2026-09-08 02:16	spill, 253 min	~1.8 km
2026-09-07 21:42	spill, 4 min	~1.8 km
2026-08-30 12:26	spill, 4 min	~1.8 km
2026-08-29 08:10	spill, 84 min	~1.8 km
2026-08-29 04:56	spill, 63 min	~2.5 km
2026-08-29 04:44	spill, 4 min	~1.8 km
2026-08-27 02:28	spill, 6 min	~1.8 km
2026-08-26 22:50	spill, 4 min	~1.8 km
2026-08-19 04:42	spill, 10 min	~1.8 km
2026-06-19 23:48	spill, 10 min	~1.8 km
2026-06-19 23:48	spill, 10 min	~1.8 km
2026-06-18 02:26	spill, 113 min	~4.2 km
2026-06-18 02:26	spill, 113 min	~4.2 km
2026-05-22 16:31	spill, 6 min	~2.5 km
2026-05-22 16:31	spill, 6 min	~2.5 km
2026-05-03 17:29	spill, 90 min	~1.8 km
2026-05-03 17:29	spill, 90 min	~1.8 km
2026-05-03 13:42	spill, 32 min	~2.7 km
2026-05-03 13:42	spill, 32 min	~2.7 km
2026-03-03 13:37	spill, 13 min	~0.8 km
2026-03-03 13:37	spill, 13 min	~0.8 km
2026-02-27 21:40	spill, 9018 min	~4.1 km
2026-02-27 21:40	spill, 9018 min	~4.1 km
2026-02-25 12:14	spill, 6 min	~2.0 km
2026-02-25 12:14	spill, 6 min	~2.0 km
2026-02-01 22:54	spill, 3 min	~2.8 km
2026-02-01 22:54	spill, 3 min	~2.8 km

Take action — email SWW / your MP Got ill here? Build a report Report pollution

Water quality — 7-year trend

Water quality improved in 2026: average E. coli was 24% lower than 2025.

Year	EA classification	Samples	E. coli (geo-mean)	Enterococci (geo-mean)	High readings
2019	—	12	12 cfu/100ml	11 cfu/100ml	0
2020	—	3	43 cfu/100ml	66 cfu/100ml	1 of 3
2021	—	20	12 cfu/100ml	12 cfu/100ml	0
2022	—	21	12 cfu/100ml	16 cfu/100ml	1 of 21
2023	—	21	11 cfu/100ml	12 cfu/100ml	0
2024	—	20	13 cfu/100ml	13 cfu/100ml	0
2025	excellent	20	14 cfu/100ml	11 cfu/100ml	0
2026	—	20	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.

Great Western — frequently asked questions

Is it safe to swim at Great Western today?

Great Western 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 Great Western?

178 storm-overflow spills were recorded near Great Western in 2025 (EA Event Duration Monitoring), and 69 spill events have been logged nearby so far this year.

What is Great Western's bathing water classification?

Great Western 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, 8 outfalls monitored within 5 km.
Risk model: v0.4
Download: Sample timeline (JSON) · All beaches (CSV)

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