Penzance water quality

GREEN

designated bathing water · · South West Water

Penzance is a designated bathing water in Cornwall, currently rated GREEN for swimming — No recent overflow, low rainfall, no high samples. Its latest Environment Agency classification is excellent (2025), and 358 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?
Looking good right now
No recent overflow, low rainfall, no high samples.
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: GREEN No recent overflow, low rainfall, no high samples.

  • Active overflows nearby: 0
  • Recent overflows (48h): 0
  • Rainfall (48h): 2.4 mm

Official EA classification

excellent (2025)

Latest official sample

2026-06-23 — E.coli 27, enterococci 64 cfu/100ml

Latest independent sample

None published

Pollution & environment data

2.4 mm
Rainfall 48h
3.1 mm
Rainfall 7d
9
Outfalls within 5 km
358
Spills (2025, official)
8
Spills 2026 so far (live)
6
Spills last 30d
rising 1.46m
Tide now

Recent storm overflows nearby (30 days)

In the news nearby

No recent local news matched.

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

Recent spills near here (precise, SWW)

Full spill history near Penzance

Download CSV

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

9 discharge events
StartEndOutfallDistance
2026-06-24 17:212026-06-25 01:48MOUNTS BAY ENGLISH CHANNEL~3.7 km
2026-06-18 02:042026-06-18 02:06MOUNTS BAY ENGLISH CHANNEL~3.7 km
2026-06-16 19:122026-06-16 19:21SURFACE WATER DRAIN TO CHYANDR~1.9 km
2026-06-13 00:062026-06-15 07:12MOUNTS BAY (C)~2.8 km
2026-06-08 03:522026-06-08 04:03LOCAL STREAM (S)~1.5 km
2026-06-08 03:442026-06-08 03:52LOCAL STREAM (S)~1.8 km
2026-05-19 00:132026-05-19 00:15MOUNTS BAY (COASTAL)~3.7 km
2026-04-27 10:572026-04-27 11:03LONGROCK STREAM~2.8 km
2025-09-09 15:582025-09-09 16:47MOUNTS BAY~0.7 km
18 precise spill records (duration & volume)
WhenDetailDistance
2026-06-24 17:21spill, 506 min~3.7 km
2026-06-24 17:21spill, 506 min~3.7 km
2026-06-18 02:04spill, 2 min~3.7 km
2026-06-18 02:04spill, 2 min~3.7 km
2026-06-16 19:12spill, 10 min~1.9 km
2026-06-16 19:12spill, 10 min~1.9 km
2026-06-13 00:06spill, 3306 min~2.8 km
2026-06-13 00:06spill, 3306 min~2.8 km
2026-06-08 03:52spill, 11 min~1.5 km
2026-06-08 03:52spill, 11 min~1.5 km
2026-06-08 03:44spill, 8 min~1.8 km
2026-06-08 03:44spill, 8 min~1.8 km
2026-05-19 00:13spill, 2 min~3.7 km
2026-05-19 00:13spill, 2 min~3.7 km
2026-04-27 10:57spill, 6 min~2.8 km
2026-04-27 10:57spill, 6 min~2.8 km
2025-09-09 15:58spill, 49 min~0.7 km
2025-09-09 15:58spill, 49 min~0.7 km
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Water quality trend

Penzance — frequently asked questions

Is it safe to swim at Penzance today?

Penzance is currently rated GREEN: No recent overflow, low rainfall, no high samples. This is guidance only — also check official alerts and use your judgement.

Has there been a sewage spill near Penzance?

358 storm-overflow spills were recorded near Penzance in 2025 (EA Event Duration Monitoring), and 8 spill events have been logged nearby so far this year.

What is Penzance's bathing water classification?

Penzance is classified excellent for 2025 by the Environment Agency.

Data & provenance

Last updated
1 h ago (2026-06-30 15:15 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, 9 outfalls monitored within 5 km.
Risk model
v0.3
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Sample timeline (JSON) · All beaches (CSV)
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