Porthcurnick water quality

AMBER

designated bathing water · · South West Water

Porthcurnick is a designated bathing water in Cornwall, currently rated AMBER for swimming — A storm overflow discharged within 5 km in the last 48 hours. Incoming/high tide may carry discharge closer to shore. Its latest Environment Agency classification is excellent (2025), and 58 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?
Take care
A storm overflow discharged within 5 km in the last 48 hours. 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: AMBER A storm overflow discharged within 5 km in the last 48 hours. Incoming/high tide may carry discharge closer to shore.

  • Active overflows nearby: 0
  • Recent overflows (48h): 2
  • Rainfall (48h): 33.8 mm

Official EA classification

excellent (2025)

Latest official sample

2026-09-16 — E.coli 10, enterococci 10 cfu/100ml

Latest independent sample

None published

Pollution & environment data

33.8 mm
Rainfall 48h
63.8 mm
Rainfall 7d
3
Outfalls within 5 km
58
Spills (2025, official)
17
Spills 2026 so far (live)
7
Spills last 30d
high 1.77m
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 Porthcurnick

Download CSV

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

17 discharge events
StartEndOutfallDistance
2026-10-24 12:252026-10-24 13:30PENCABE DRANG (COASTAL)~0.9 km
2026-10-24 11:302026-10-24 13:15PENCABE DRANG (COASTAL)~0.9 km
2026-10-13 11:272026-10-13 11:30CARNE STREAM~4.8 km
2026-09-30 06:152026-09-30 10:00CARNE STREAM~4.8 km
2026-09-30 05:502026-09-30 09:45CARNE STREAM~4.8 km
2026-09-29 20:022026-09-29 20:05CARRICK ROADS(E)~4.5 km
2026-09-29 19:452026-09-29 20:00CARRICK ROADS(E)~4.5 km
2026-09-02 11:482026-09-02 11:49CARRICK ROADS(E)~4.5 km
2026-08-30 12:452026-08-30 13:00CARRICK ROADS(E)~4.5 km
2026-08-30 12:372026-08-30 12:39CARRICK ROADS(E)~4.5 km
2026-08-29 09:002026-08-29 09:15CARRICK ROADS(E)~4.5 km
2026-08-29 08:462026-08-29 08:49CARRICK ROADS(E)~4.5 km
2026-08-04 21:582026-08-04 21:58CARRICK ROADS(E)~4.5 km
2026-07-23 10:142026-07-23 10:14CARRICK ROADS(E)~4.5 km
2026-06-19 23:372026-06-19 23:40CARRICK ROADS(E)~4.5 km
2026-06-01 18:562026-06-01 19:11PENCABE DRANG (COASTAL)~0.9 km
2026-02-24 17:482026-02-26 01:17CARNE STREAM~4.8 km
16 precise spill records (duration & volume)
WhenDetailDistance
2026-10-24 12:25spill, 32 min~0.9 km
2026-10-24 11:14spill, 60 min~0.9 km
2026-10-13 11:27spill, 3 min~4.8 km
2026-09-30 05:50spill, 235 min~4.8 km
2026-09-29 20:02spill, 3 min~4.5 km
2026-09-02 11:48spill, 0 min~4.5 km
2026-08-30 12:37spill, 2 min~4.5 km
2026-08-29 08:46spill, 3 min~4.5 km
2026-08-04 21:58spill, 0 min~4.5 km
2026-07-23 10:14spill, 0 min~4.5 km
2026-06-19 23:37spill, 3 min~4.5 km
2026-06-19 23:37spill, 3 min~4.5 km
2026-06-01 18:56spill, 16 min~0.9 km
2026-06-01 18:56spill, 16 min~0.9 km
2026-02-24 17:48spill, 1889 min~4.8 km
2026-02-24 17:48spill, 1889 min~4.8 km
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Water quality — 7-year trend

Water quality in 2026 was broadly level with 2025.

YearEA classificationSamplesE. coli (geo-mean)Enterococci (geo-mean)High readings
2019—1233 cfu/100ml25 cfu/100ml2 of 12
2020—310 cfu/100ml19 cfu/100ml0
2021—2011 cfu/100ml11 cfu/100ml0
2022—2010 cfu/100ml11 cfu/100ml0
2023—2014 cfu/100ml11 cfu/100ml0
2024—1511 cfu/100ml12 cfu/100ml0
2025excellent1012 cfu/100ml10 cfu/100ml0
2026—1012 cfu/100ml13 cfu/100ml0

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.

Porthcurnick — frequently asked questions

Is it safe to swim at Porthcurnick today?

Porthcurnick is currently rated AMBER: A storm overflow discharged within 5 km in the last 48 hours. 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 Porthcurnick?

58 storm-overflow spills were recorded near Porthcurnick in 2025 (EA Event Duration Monitoring), and 17 spill events have been logged nearby so far this year.

What is Porthcurnick's bathing water classification?

Porthcurnick 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, 3 outfalls monitored within 5 km.
Risk model
v0.4
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Sample timeline (JSON) · All beaches (CSV)
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