Porthminster water quality
AMBERdesignated bathing water · · South West Water
Porthminster is a designated bathing water in Cornwall, currently rated AMBER for swimming — 28 mm rain in 48h (this beach's threshold is 12 mm) — runoff and overflows more likely. Its latest Environment Agency classification is excellent (2025), and 15 storm-overflow spills were recorded nearby in 2025. Below: live risk, recent spills, official samples, rainfall, tides and nearby reports.
Current status
Risk: AMBER 28 mm rain in 48h (this beach's threshold is 12 mm) — runoff and overflows more likely.
- Active overflows nearby: 0
- Recent overflows (48h): 0
- Rainfall (48h): 28.2 mm
Official EA classification
excellent (2025)
Latest official sample
2026-09-22 — E.coli 10, enterococci 10 cfu/100ml
Latest independent sample
None published
Pollution & environment data
Recent storm overflows nearby (30 days)
No spills recorded within 5 km in the last 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)
- spill, 3 min2026-08-21 · ~3.6 km
Full spill history near Porthminster
Download CSVEvery storm-overflow discharge Glanmor has recorded within 5 km of Porthminster, newest first.
4 discharge events
| Start | End | Outfall | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-20 08:50 | 2026-05-21 16:30 | ST IVES BAY (C) | ~0.4 km |
| 2026-01-29 17:32 | 2026-01-29 18:13 | ST IVES BAY ATLANTIC OCEAN | ~0.7 km |
| 2026-01-29 04:43 | 2026-01-29 05:55 | ST IVES BAY | ~1.0 km |
| 2025-11-14 00:53 | 2025-11-14 00:56 | HAYLE ESTUARY (E) | ~4.9 km |
13 precise spill records (duration & volume)
| When | Detail | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-08-21 07:46 | spill, 3 min | ~3.6 km |
| 2026-05-20 08:50 | spill, 1900 min | ~0.4 km |
| 2026-05-20 08:50 | spill, 1900 min | ~0.4 km |
| 2026-02-26 09:26 | spill, 0 min | ~4.1 km |
| 2026-02-26 09:26 | spill, 0 min | ~4.1 km |
| 2026-01-30 14:26 | spill, 14 min | ~3.6 km |
| 2026-01-30 14:26 | spill, 14 min | ~3.6 km |
| 2026-01-29 17:32 | spill, 41 min | ~0.7 km |
| 2026-01-29 17:32 | spill, 41 min | ~0.7 km |
| 2026-01-29 04:43 | spill, 72 min | ~1.0 km |
| 2026-01-29 04:43 | spill, 72 min | ~1.0 km |
| 2025-11-14 00:53 | spill, 3 min | ~4.9 km |
| 2025-11-14 00:53 | spill, 3 min | ~4.9 km |
Water quality — 7-year trend
Water quality in 2026 was broadly level with 2025.
| Year | EA classification | Samples | E. coli (geo-mean) | Enterococci (geo-mean) | High readings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | — | 12 | 12 cfu/100ml | 22 cfu/100ml | 0 |
| 2020 | — | 3 | 63 cfu/100ml | 53 cfu/100ml | 1 of 3 |
| 2021 | — | 20 | 16 cfu/100ml | 20 cfu/100ml | 0 |
| 2022 | — | 20 | 18 cfu/100ml | 24 cfu/100ml | 2 of 20 |
| 2023 | — | 22 | 12 cfu/100ml | 14 cfu/100ml | 1 of 22 |
| 2024 | — | 20 | 14 cfu/100ml | 17 cfu/100ml | 0 |
| 2025 | excellent | 20 | 14 cfu/100ml | 18 cfu/100ml | 0 |
| 2026 | — | 20 | 14 cfu/100ml | 20 cfu/100ml | 1 of 20 |
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.
Porthminster — frequently asked questions
Is it safe to swim at Porthminster today?
Porthminster is currently rated AMBER: 28 mm rain in 48h (this beach's threshold is 12 mm) — runoff and overflows more likely. This is guidance only — also check official alerts and use your judgement.
Has there been a sewage spill near Porthminster?
15 storm-overflow spills were recorded near Porthminster in 2025 (EA Event Duration Monitoring), and 3 spill events have been logged nearby so far this year.
What is Porthminster's bathing water classification?
Porthminster is classified excellent for 2025 by the Environment Agency.
Data & provenance
- Last updated
- 7 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, 4 outfalls monitored within 5 km.
- Risk model
- v0.4
- Download
- Sample timeline (JSON) · All beaches (CSV)
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