Tolcarne water quality
REDdesignated bathing water · · South West Water
Tolcarne 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): 32.4 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
32.4 mm
Rainfall 48h
61.9 mm
Rainfall 7d
8
Outfalls within 5 km
178
Spills (2025, official)
69
Spills 2026 so far (live)
45
Spills last 30d
high 2.76m
Tide now
Recent storm overflows nearby (30 days)
- 2026-09-29 20:01 · ended~1.7 km
- 2026-09-29 20:04 · ended~1.7 km
- 2026-09-30 01:40 · ended~1.7 km
- 2026-10-01 08:44 · ended~1.7 km
- 2026-10-01 08:45 · ended~1.7 km
- 2026-10-15 20:46 · ended~1.7 km
- 2026-10-15 21:01 · ended~1.7 km
- 2026-10-17 07:54 · ended~1.7 km
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
- 3 pollution threats deadlier than climate change in Asia · 2026-10-01
- South West Water told to fix the leak as it introduces hosepipe ban · 2026-08-07
Storm-overflow spills near here, by year (EDM)
Recent spills near here (precise, SWW)
- spill, 102 min2026-10-24 · ~2.7 km
- spill, 34 min2026-10-24 · ~1.7 km
- spill, 109 min2026-10-24 · ~1.9 km
- spill, 2 min2026-10-24 · ~1.7 km
- spill, 2 min2026-10-23 · ~1.7 km
- spill, 6 min2026-10-23 · ~1.7 km
- spill, 119 min2026-10-22 · ~1.9 km
- spill, 4 min2026-10-22 · ~1.7 km
Full spill history near Tolcarne
Download CSVEvery storm-overflow discharge Glanmor has recorded within 5 km of Tolcarne, newest first.
69 discharge events
| Start | End | Outfall | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-24 13:16 | ongoing | ATLANTIC OCEAN (C) | ~2.7 km |
| 2026-10-24 13:01 | ongoing | ATLANTIC OCEAN(T) | ~1.9 km |
| 2026-10-24 13:01 | 2026-10-24 13:46 | UNNAMED DITCH,TRENANCE LAKE(S) | ~1.7 km |
| 2026-10-24 12:47 | 2026-10-24 15:01 | ATLANTIC OCEAN (C) | ~2.7 km |
| 2026-10-24 12:40 | ongoing | ATLANTIC OCEAN(T) | ~1.9 km |
| 2026-10-24 00:02 | 2026-10-24 00:04 | UNNAMED DITCH,TRENANCE LAKE(S) | ~1.7 km |
| 2026-10-23 13:00 | 2026-10-23 13:02 | UNNAMED DITCH,TRENANCE LAKE(S) | ~1.7 km |
| 2026-10-23 04:50 | 2026-10-23 04:56 | UNNAMED DITCH,TRENANCE LAKE(S) | ~1.7 km |
| 2026-10-23 00:00 | 2026-10-23 02:00 | ATLANTIC OCEAN(T) | ~1.9 km |
| 2026-10-22 23:34 | 2026-10-23 01:45 | ATLANTIC OCEAN(T) | ~1.9 km |
| 2026-10-22 20:16 | 2026-10-22 23:15 | ATLANTIC OCEAN(T) | ~1.9 km |
| 2026-10-22 20:16 | 2026-10-22 21:30 | ATLANTIC OCEAN (C) | ~2.7 km |
| 2026-10-22 20:16 | 2026-10-22 20:31 | UNNAMED DITCH,TRENANCE LAKE(S) | ~1.7 km |
| 2026-10-22 20:04 | 2026-10-22 20:08 | UNNAMED DITCH,TRENANCE LAKE(S) | ~1.7 km |
| 2026-10-22 20:00 | 2026-10-22 21:13 | ATLANTIC OCEAN (C) | ~2.7 km |
| 2026-10-22 19:48 | 2026-10-22 23:00 | ATLANTIC OCEAN(T) | ~1.9 km |
| 2026-10-22 19:46 | 2026-10-22 20:01 | UNNAMED DITCH,TRENANCE LAKE(S) | ~1.7 km |
| 2026-10-22 16:58 | 2026-10-22 17:02 | UNNAMED DITCH,TRENANCE LAKE(S) | ~1.7 km |
| 2026-10-21 20:20 | 2026-10-21 20:22 | UNNAMED DITCH,TRENANCE LAKE(S) | ~1.7 km |
| 2026-10-21 17:04 | 2026-10-21 17:06 | UNNAMED DITCH,TRENANCE LAKE(S) | ~1.7 km |
| 2026-10-21 12:48 | 2026-10-21 12:50 | UNNAMED DITCH,TRENANCE LAKE(S) | ~1.7 km |
| 2026-10-21 11:01 | 2026-10-21 11:17 | UNNAMED DITCH,TRENANCE LAKE(S) | ~1.7 km |
| 2026-10-21 10:48 | 2026-10-21 10:50 | UNNAMED DITCH,TRENANCE LAKE(S) | ~1.7 km |
| 2026-10-21 08:31 | 2026-10-21 08:46 | UNNAMED DITCH,TRENANCE LAKE(S) | ~1.7 km |
| 2026-10-21 02:15 | 2026-10-21 02:30 | ATLANTIC OCEAN(T) | ~1.9 km |
| 2026-10-21 01:58 | 2026-10-21 02:16 | ATLANTIC OCEAN(T) | ~1.9 km |
| 2026-10-20 23:45 | 2026-10-21 00:00 | UNNAMED DITCH,TRENANCE LAKE(S) | ~1.7 km |
| 2026-10-17 07:54 | 2026-10-17 07:56 | UNNAMED DITCH,TRENANCE LAKE(S) | ~1.7 km |
| 2026-10-15 22:15 | 2026-10-16 02:15 | ATLANTIC OCEAN(T) | ~1.9 km |
| 2026-10-15 21:47 | 2026-10-16 02:00 | ATLANTIC OCEAN(T) | ~1.9 km |
| 2026-10-15 21:45 | 2026-10-15 23:45 | ATLANTIC OCEAN (C) | ~2.7 km |
| 2026-10-15 21:29 | 2026-10-15 23:30 | ATLANTIC OCEAN (C) | ~2.7 km |
| 2026-10-15 21:15 | 2026-10-15 21:30 | RIVER GANNEL (S) | ~2.9 km |
| 2026-10-15 21:01 | 2026-10-15 21:30 | UNNAMED DITCH,TRENANCE LAKE(S) | ~1.7 km |
| 2026-10-15 20:51 | 2026-10-15 21:02 | RIVER GANNEL (S) | ~2.9 km |
| 2026-10-15 20:46 | 2026-10-15 21:16 | UNNAMED DITCH,TRENANCE LAKE(S) | ~1.7 km |
| 2026-10-01 08:45 | 2026-10-01 09:00 | UNNAMED DITCH,TRENANCE LAKE(S) | ~1.7 km |
| 2026-10-01 08:44 | 2026-10-01 08:46 | UNNAMED DITCH,TRENANCE LAKE(S) | ~1.7 km |
| 2026-09-30 01:40 | 2026-09-30 01:46 | UNNAMED DITCH,TRENANCE LAKE(S) | ~1.7 km |
| 2026-09-29 21:34 | 2026-09-29 21:46 | ATLANTIC OCEAN (C) | ~2.7 km |
| 2026-09-29 21:15 | 2026-09-30 00:30 | ATLANTIC OCEAN(T) | ~1.9 km |
| 2026-09-29 21:00 | 2026-09-30 00:13 | ATLANTIC OCEAN(T) | ~1.9 km |
| 2026-09-29 21:00 | 2026-09-29 21:45 | ATLANTIC OCEAN (C) | ~2.7 km |
| 2026-09-29 20:04 | 2026-09-29 20:10 | UNNAMED DITCH,TRENANCE LAKE(S) | ~1.7 km |
| 2026-09-29 20:01 | 2026-09-29 20:30 | UNNAMED DITCH,TRENANCE LAKE(S) | ~1.7 km |
| 2026-09-15 14:52 | 2026-09-15 14:58 | UNNAMED DITCH,TRENANCE LAKE(S) | ~1.7 km |
| 2026-09-08 03:19 | 2026-09-08 04:18 | ATLANTIC OCEAN (C) | ~2.7 km |
| 2026-09-08 02:30 | 2026-09-08 02:30 | ATLANTIC OCEAN(T) | ~1.9 km |
| 2026-09-08 02:16 | 2026-09-08 06:28 | ATLANTIC OCEAN(T) | ~1.9 km |
| 2026-09-07 21:42 | 2026-09-07 21:46 | UNNAMED DITCH,TRENANCE LAKE(S) | ~1.7 km |
| 2026-08-30 12:26 | 2026-08-30 12:30 | UNNAMED DITCH,TRENANCE LAKE(S) | ~1.7 km |
| 2026-08-29 08:10 | 2026-08-29 09:33 | ATLANTIC OCEAN(T) | ~1.9 km |
| 2026-08-29 06:45 | 2026-08-29 10:15 | ATLANTIC OCEAN(T) | ~1.9 km |
| 2026-08-29 05:30 | 2026-08-29 06:30 | ATLANTIC OCEAN (C) | ~2.7 km |
| 2026-08-29 04:56 | 2026-08-29 05:58 | ATLANTIC OCEAN (C) | ~2.7 km |
| 2026-08-29 04:45 | 2026-08-29 05:30 | ATLANTIC OCEAN(T) | ~1.9 km |
| 2026-08-29 04:44 | 2026-08-29 04:48 | UNNAMED DITCH,TRENANCE LAKE(S) | ~1.7 km |
| 2026-08-29 04:30 | 2026-08-29 04:45 | UNNAMED DITCH,TRENANCE LAKE(S) | ~1.7 km |
| 2026-08-27 02:30 | 2026-08-27 03:45 | UNNAMED DITCH,TRENANCE LAKE(S) | ~1.7 km |
| 2026-08-27 02:28 | 2026-08-27 02:34 | UNNAMED DITCH,TRENANCE LAKE(S) | ~1.7 km |
| 2026-08-19 04:42 | 2026-08-19 05:15 | UNNAMED DITCH,TRENANCE LAKE(S) | ~1.7 km |
| 2026-06-19 23:48 | 2026-06-19 23:58 | UNNAMED DITCH,TRENANCE LAKE(S) | ~1.7 km |
| 2026-06-18 02:26 | 2026-06-18 04:19 | TRIB OF PORTH JOKE | ~4.5 km |
| 2026-05-22 16:31 | 2026-05-22 16:36 | ATLANTIC OCEAN (C) | ~2.7 km |
| 2026-05-03 17:29 | 2026-05-03 18:59 | ATLANTIC OCEAN(T) | ~1.9 km |
| 2026-05-03 13:42 | 2026-05-03 14:14 | RIVER GANNEL (S) | ~2.9 km |
| 2026-03-03 13:37 | 2026-03-03 13:50 | NEWQUAY BAY (C) | ~1.0 km |
| 2026-02-27 21:40 | 2026-03-06 03:58 | STREAM/ATLANTIC OCEAN (S) | ~3.8 km |
| 2026-02-01 22:54 | 2026-02-01 22:58 | CRANTOCK BEACH (C) | ~3.1 km |
67 precise spill records (duration & volume)
| When | Detail | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-24 12:47 | spill, 102 min | ~2.7 km |
| 2026-10-24 12:46 | spill, 34 min | ~1.7 km |
| 2026-10-24 12:40 | spill, 109 min | ~1.9 km |
| 2026-10-24 00:02 | spill, 2 min | ~1.7 km |
| 2026-10-23 13:00 | spill, 2 min | ~1.7 km |
| 2026-10-23 04:50 | spill, 6 min | ~1.7 km |
| 2026-10-22 23:34 | spill, 119 min | ~1.9 km |
| 2026-10-22 20:04 | spill, 4 min | ~1.7 km |
| 2026-10-22 20:00 | spill, 73 min | ~2.7 km |
| 2026-10-22 19:48 | spill, 169 min | ~1.9 km |
| 2026-10-22 19:38 | spill, 4 min | ~1.7 km |
| 2026-10-22 16:58 | spill, 4 min | ~1.7 km |
| 2026-10-21 20:20 | spill, 2 min | ~1.7 km |
| 2026-10-21 17:04 | spill, 2 min | ~1.7 km |
| 2026-10-21 16:10 | spill, 2 min | ~1.7 km |
| 2026-10-21 15:42 | spill, 2 min | ~1.7 km |
| 2026-10-21 15:24 | spill, 2 min | ~1.7 km |
| 2026-10-21 12:48 | spill, 2 min | ~1.7 km |
| 2026-10-21 12:24 | spill, 2 min | ~1.7 km |
| 2026-10-21 10:48 | spill, 2 min | ~1.7 km |
| 2026-10-21 09:46 | spill, 2 min | ~1.7 km |
| 2026-10-21 08:12 | spill, 2 min | ~1.7 km |
| 2026-10-21 06:40 | spill, 2 min | ~1.7 km |
| 2026-10-21 01:58 | spill, 18 min | ~1.9 km |
| 2026-10-20 23:24 | spill, 20 min | ~1.7 km |
| 2026-10-17 07:54 | spill, 2 min | ~1.7 km |
| 2026-10-15 21:47 | spill, 238 min | ~1.9 km |
| 2026-10-15 21:29 | spill, 90 min | ~2.7 km |
| 2026-10-15 20:51 | spill, 12 min | ~2.9 km |
| 2026-10-15 20:46 | spill, 30 min | ~1.7 km |
| 2026-10-01 08:44 | spill, 2 min | ~1.7 km |
| 2026-10-01 04:48 | spill, 10 min | ~1.7 km |
| 2026-10-01 04:42 | spill, 2 min | ~1.7 km |
| 2026-09-30 01:40 | spill, 6 min | ~1.7 km |
| 2026-09-29 21:34 | spill, 12 min | ~2.7 km |
| 2026-09-29 21:00 | spill, 193 min | ~1.9 km |
| 2026-09-29 20:04 | spill, 6 min | ~1.7 km |
| 2026-09-15 14:52 | spill, 6 min | ~1.7 km |
| 2026-09-15 13:34 | spill, 11 min | ~1.7 km |
| 2026-09-08 03:19 | spill, 59 min | ~2.7 km |
| 2026-09-08 02:16 | spill, 253 min | ~1.9 km |
| 2026-09-07 21:42 | spill, 4 min | ~1.7 km |
| 2026-08-30 12:26 | spill, 4 min | ~1.7 km |
| 2026-08-29 08:10 | spill, 84 min | ~1.9 km |
| 2026-08-29 04:56 | spill, 63 min | ~2.7 km |
| 2026-08-29 04:44 | spill, 4 min | ~1.7 km |
| 2026-08-27 02:28 | spill, 6 min | ~1.7 km |
| 2026-08-26 22:50 | spill, 4 min | ~1.7 km |
| 2026-08-19 04:42 | spill, 10 min | ~1.7 km |
| 2026-06-19 23:48 | spill, 10 min | ~1.7 km |
| 2026-06-19 23:48 | spill, 10 min | ~1.7 km |
| 2026-06-18 02:26 | spill, 113 min | ~4.5 km |
| 2026-06-18 02:26 | spill, 113 min | ~4.5 km |
| 2026-05-22 16:31 | spill, 6 min | ~2.7 km |
| 2026-05-22 16:31 | spill, 6 min | ~2.7 km |
| 2026-05-03 17:29 | spill, 90 min | ~1.9 km |
| 2026-05-03 17:29 | spill, 90 min | ~1.9 km |
| 2026-05-03 13:42 | spill, 32 min | ~2.9 km |
| 2026-05-03 13:42 | spill, 32 min | ~2.9 km |
| 2026-03-03 13:37 | spill, 13 min | ~1.0 km |
| 2026-03-03 13:37 | spill, 13 min | ~1.0 km |
| 2026-02-27 21:40 | spill, 9018 min | ~3.8 km |
| 2026-02-27 21:40 | spill, 9018 min | ~3.8 km |
| 2026-02-25 12:14 | spill, 6 min | ~1.7 km |
| 2026-02-25 12:14 | spill, 6 min | ~1.7 km |
| 2026-02-01 22:54 | spill, 3 min | ~3.1 km |
| 2026-02-01 22:54 | spill, 3 min | ~3.1 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 | — | 3 | 12 cfu/100ml | 12 cfu/100ml | 0 |
| 2020 | — | 3 | 25 cfu/100ml | 55 cfu/100ml | 0 |
| 2021 | — | 5 | 16 cfu/100ml | 13 cfu/100ml | 0 |
| 2022 | — | 11 | 15 cfu/100ml | 17 cfu/100ml | 0 |
| 2023 | — | 11 | 20 cfu/100ml | 24 cfu/100ml | 1 of 11 |
| 2024 | — | 10 | 12 cfu/100ml | 11 cfu/100ml | 0 |
| 2025 | excellent | 20 | 11 cfu/100ml | 14 cfu/100ml | 1 of 20 |
| 2026 | — | 15 | 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.
Tolcarne — frequently asked questions
Is it safe to swim at Tolcarne today?
Tolcarne 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 Tolcarne?
178 storm-overflow spills were recorded near Tolcarne in 2025 (EA Event Duration Monitoring), and 69 spill events have been logged nearby so far this year.
What is Tolcarne's bathing water classification?
Tolcarne 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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