Watergate Bay water quality
REDdesignated bathing water · · South West Water
Watergate Bay 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 132 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: 2
- Recent overflows (48h): 13
- Rainfall (48h): 33.0 mm
Official EA classification
excellent (2025)
Latest official sample
2026-09-25 — E.coli 10, enterococci 10 cfu/100ml
Latest independent sample
None published
Pollution & environment data
33.0 mm
Rainfall 48h
64.0 mm
Rainfall 7d
5
Outfalls within 5 km
132
Spills (2025, official)
54
Spills 2026 so far (live)
36
Spills last 30d
high 2.76m
Tide now
Recent storm overflows nearby (30 days)
- 2026-10-23 06:39 · ended~3.4 km
- 2026-09-29 20:01 · ended~3.4 km
- 2026-09-29 20:04 · ended~3.4 km
- 2026-09-30 01:40 · ended~3.4 km
- 2026-10-01 08:44 · ended~3.4 km
- 2026-10-01 08:45 · ended~3.4 km
- 2026-10-15 20:46 · ended~3.4 km
- 2026-10-15 21:01 · ended~3.4 km
In the news nearby
- Why some storm overflow alerts may not mean a spill · 2026-08-25
- 3 pollution threats deadlier than climate change in Asia · 2026-10-01
- 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
- Hundreds of tourists are falling sick after visiting some of the best beaches in the country , new figures show · 2026-08-08
- 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 · 2026-10-02
- South West Water explains when a sewage spill is not a sewage spill · 2026-08-23
Storm-overflow spills near here, by year (EDM)
Recent spills near here (precise, SWW)
- spill, 34 min2026-10-24 · ~3.4 km
- spill, 109 min2026-10-24 · ~4.4 km
- spill, 2 min2026-10-24 · ~3.4 km
- spill, 2 min2026-10-23 · ~3.4 km
- spill, 84 min2026-10-23 · ~3.4 km
- spill, 6 min2026-10-23 · ~3.4 km
- spill, 119 min2026-10-22 · ~4.4 km
- spill, 4 min2026-10-22 · ~3.4 km
Full spill history near Watergate Bay
Download CSVEvery storm-overflow discharge Glanmor has recorded within 5 km of Watergate Bay, newest first.
54 discharge events
| Start | End | Outfall | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-24 13:01 | ongoing | ATLANTIC OCEAN(T) | ~4.4 km |
| 2026-10-24 13:01 | 2026-10-24 13:46 | UNNAMED DITCH,TRENANCE LAKE(S) | ~3.4 km |
| 2026-10-24 12:40 | ongoing | ATLANTIC OCEAN(T) | ~4.4 km |
| 2026-10-24 00:02 | 2026-10-24 00:04 | UNNAMED DITCH,TRENANCE LAKE(S) | ~3.4 km |
| 2026-10-23 13:00 | 2026-10-23 13:02 | UNNAMED DITCH,TRENANCE LAKE(S) | ~3.4 km |
| 2026-10-23 06:39 | 2026-10-23 08:03 | RIVER MENALHYL (S) | ~3.4 km |
| 2026-10-23 04:50 | 2026-10-23 04:56 | UNNAMED DITCH,TRENANCE LAKE(S) | ~3.4 km |
| 2026-10-23 00:00 | 2026-10-23 02:00 | ATLANTIC OCEAN(T) | ~4.4 km |
| 2026-10-22 23:34 | 2026-10-23 01:45 | ATLANTIC OCEAN(T) | ~4.4 km |
| 2026-10-22 20:16 | 2026-10-22 23:15 | ATLANTIC OCEAN(T) | ~4.4 km |
| 2026-10-22 20:16 | 2026-10-22 20:31 | UNNAMED DITCH,TRENANCE LAKE(S) | ~3.4 km |
| 2026-10-22 20:04 | 2026-10-22 20:08 | UNNAMED DITCH,TRENANCE LAKE(S) | ~3.4 km |
| 2026-10-22 19:48 | 2026-10-22 23:00 | ATLANTIC OCEAN(T) | ~4.4 km |
| 2026-10-22 19:46 | 2026-10-22 20:01 | UNNAMED DITCH,TRENANCE LAKE(S) | ~3.4 km |
| 2026-10-22 16:58 | 2026-10-22 17:02 | UNNAMED DITCH,TRENANCE LAKE(S) | ~3.4 km |
| 2026-10-21 20:20 | 2026-10-21 20:22 | UNNAMED DITCH,TRENANCE LAKE(S) | ~3.4 km |
| 2026-10-21 17:04 | 2026-10-21 17:06 | UNNAMED DITCH,TRENANCE LAKE(S) | ~3.4 km |
| 2026-10-21 12:48 | 2026-10-21 12:50 | UNNAMED DITCH,TRENANCE LAKE(S) | ~3.4 km |
| 2026-10-21 11:01 | 2026-10-21 11:17 | UNNAMED DITCH,TRENANCE LAKE(S) | ~3.4 km |
| 2026-10-21 10:48 | 2026-10-21 10:50 | UNNAMED DITCH,TRENANCE LAKE(S) | ~3.4 km |
| 2026-10-21 08:31 | 2026-10-21 08:46 | UNNAMED DITCH,TRENANCE LAKE(S) | ~3.4 km |
| 2026-10-21 02:15 | 2026-10-21 02:30 | ATLANTIC OCEAN(T) | ~4.4 km |
| 2026-10-21 01:58 | 2026-10-21 02:16 | ATLANTIC OCEAN(T) | ~4.4 km |
| 2026-10-20 23:45 | 2026-10-21 00:00 | UNNAMED DITCH,TRENANCE LAKE(S) | ~3.4 km |
| 2026-10-17 07:54 | 2026-10-17 07:56 | UNNAMED DITCH,TRENANCE LAKE(S) | ~3.4 km |
| 2026-10-15 22:15 | 2026-10-16 02:15 | ATLANTIC OCEAN(T) | ~4.4 km |
| 2026-10-15 21:47 | 2026-10-16 02:00 | ATLANTIC OCEAN(T) | ~4.4 km |
| 2026-10-15 21:01 | 2026-10-15 21:30 | UNNAMED DITCH,TRENANCE LAKE(S) | ~3.4 km |
| 2026-10-15 20:46 | 2026-10-15 21:16 | UNNAMED DITCH,TRENANCE LAKE(S) | ~3.4 km |
| 2026-10-01 08:45 | 2026-10-01 09:00 | UNNAMED DITCH,TRENANCE LAKE(S) | ~3.4 km |
| 2026-10-01 08:44 | 2026-10-01 08:46 | UNNAMED DITCH,TRENANCE LAKE(S) | ~3.4 km |
| 2026-09-30 01:40 | 2026-09-30 01:46 | UNNAMED DITCH,TRENANCE LAKE(S) | ~3.4 km |
| 2026-09-29 21:15 | 2026-09-30 00:30 | ATLANTIC OCEAN(T) | ~4.4 km |
| 2026-09-29 21:00 | 2026-09-30 00:13 | ATLANTIC OCEAN(T) | ~4.4 km |
| 2026-09-29 20:04 | 2026-09-29 20:10 | UNNAMED DITCH,TRENANCE LAKE(S) | ~3.4 km |
| 2026-09-29 20:01 | 2026-09-29 20:30 | UNNAMED DITCH,TRENANCE LAKE(S) | ~3.4 km |
| 2026-09-15 14:52 | 2026-09-15 14:58 | UNNAMED DITCH,TRENANCE LAKE(S) | ~3.4 km |
| 2026-09-08 02:30 | 2026-09-08 02:30 | ATLANTIC OCEAN(T) | ~4.4 km |
| 2026-09-08 02:16 | 2026-09-08 06:28 | ATLANTIC OCEAN(T) | ~4.4 km |
| 2026-09-07 21:42 | 2026-09-07 21:46 | UNNAMED DITCH,TRENANCE LAKE(S) | ~3.4 km |
| 2026-08-30 12:26 | 2026-08-30 12:30 | UNNAMED DITCH,TRENANCE LAKE(S) | ~3.4 km |
| 2026-08-29 08:10 | 2026-08-29 09:33 | ATLANTIC OCEAN(T) | ~4.4 km |
| 2026-08-29 06:45 | 2026-08-29 10:15 | ATLANTIC OCEAN(T) | ~4.4 km |
| 2026-08-29 04:45 | 2026-08-29 05:30 | ATLANTIC OCEAN(T) | ~4.4 km |
| 2026-08-29 04:44 | 2026-08-29 04:48 | UNNAMED DITCH,TRENANCE LAKE(S) | ~3.4 km |
| 2026-08-29 04:30 | 2026-08-29 04:45 | UNNAMED DITCH,TRENANCE LAKE(S) | ~3.4 km |
| 2026-08-27 02:30 | 2026-08-27 03:45 | UNNAMED DITCH,TRENANCE LAKE(S) | ~3.4 km |
| 2026-08-27 02:28 | 2026-08-27 02:34 | UNNAMED DITCH,TRENANCE LAKE(S) | ~3.4 km |
| 2026-08-19 04:42 | 2026-08-19 05:15 | UNNAMED DITCH,TRENANCE LAKE(S) | ~3.4 km |
| 2026-06-19 23:48 | 2026-06-19 23:58 | UNNAMED DITCH,TRENANCE LAKE(S) | ~3.4 km |
| 2026-05-03 17:29 | 2026-05-03 18:59 | ATLANTIC OCEAN(T) | ~4.4 km |
| 2026-03-03 13:37 | 2026-03-03 13:50 | NEWQUAY BAY (C) | ~4.1 km |
| 2026-02-27 21:40 | 2026-03-06 03:58 | STREAM/ATLANTIC OCEAN (S) | ~0.2 km |
| 2026-02-05 09:27 | 2026-02-05 09:30 | RIVER MENALHYL (S) | ~3.4 km |
60 precise spill records (duration & volume)
| When | Detail | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-24 12:46 | spill, 34 min | ~3.4 km |
| 2026-10-24 12:40 | spill, 109 min | ~4.4 km |
| 2026-10-24 00:02 | spill, 2 min | ~3.4 km |
| 2026-10-23 13:00 | spill, 2 min | ~3.4 km |
| 2026-10-23 06:39 | spill, 84 min | ~3.4 km |
| 2026-10-23 04:50 | spill, 6 min | ~3.4 km |
| 2026-10-22 23:34 | spill, 119 min | ~4.4 km |
| 2026-10-22 20:04 | spill, 4 min | ~3.4 km |
| 2026-10-22 19:48 | spill, 169 min | ~4.4 km |
| 2026-10-22 19:38 | spill, 4 min | ~3.4 km |
| 2026-10-22 16:58 | spill, 4 min | ~3.4 km |
| 2026-10-21 20:20 | spill, 2 min | ~3.4 km |
| 2026-10-21 17:04 | spill, 2 min | ~3.4 km |
| 2026-10-21 16:10 | spill, 2 min | ~3.4 km |
| 2026-10-21 15:42 | spill, 2 min | ~3.4 km |
| 2026-10-21 15:24 | spill, 2 min | ~3.4 km |
| 2026-10-21 12:48 | spill, 2 min | ~3.4 km |
| 2026-10-21 12:24 | spill, 2 min | ~3.4 km |
| 2026-10-21 10:48 | spill, 2 min | ~3.4 km |
| 2026-10-21 09:46 | spill, 2 min | ~3.4 km |
| 2026-10-21 08:12 | spill, 2 min | ~3.4 km |
| 2026-10-21 06:40 | spill, 2 min | ~3.4 km |
| 2026-10-21 01:58 | spill, 18 min | ~4.4 km |
| 2026-10-20 23:24 | spill, 20 min | ~3.4 km |
| 2026-10-17 07:54 | spill, 2 min | ~3.4 km |
| 2026-10-15 21:47 | spill, 238 min | ~4.4 km |
| 2026-10-15 20:46 | spill, 30 min | ~3.4 km |
| 2026-10-15 20:30 | spill, 23 min | ~3.0 km |
| 2026-10-01 08:44 | spill, 2 min | ~3.4 km |
| 2026-10-01 04:48 | spill, 10 min | ~3.4 km |
| 2026-10-01 04:42 | spill, 2 min | ~3.4 km |
| 2026-09-30 01:40 | spill, 6 min | ~3.4 km |
| 2026-09-29 21:00 | spill, 193 min | ~4.4 km |
| 2026-09-29 20:04 | spill, 6 min | ~3.4 km |
| 2026-09-15 14:52 | spill, 6 min | ~3.4 km |
| 2026-09-15 13:34 | spill, 11 min | ~2.1 km |
| 2026-09-08 02:16 | spill, 253 min | ~4.4 km |
| 2026-09-07 21:42 | spill, 4 min | ~3.4 km |
| 2026-08-30 12:26 | spill, 4 min | ~3.4 km |
| 2026-08-29 08:10 | spill, 84 min | ~4.4 km |
| 2026-08-29 04:44 | spill, 4 min | ~3.4 km |
| 2026-08-27 02:28 | spill, 6 min | ~3.4 km |
| 2026-08-26 22:50 | spill, 4 min | ~3.4 km |
| 2026-08-19 04:42 | spill, 10 min | ~3.4 km |
| 2026-06-19 23:48 | spill, 10 min | ~3.4 km |
| 2026-06-19 23:48 | spill, 10 min | ~3.4 km |
| 2026-05-03 17:29 | spill, 90 min | ~4.4 km |
| 2026-05-03 17:29 | spill, 90 min | ~4.4 km |
| 2026-03-03 13:37 | spill, 13 min | ~4.1 km |
| 2026-03-03 13:37 | spill, 13 min | ~4.1 km |
| 2026-03-02 12:55 | spill, 173 min | ~3.0 km |
| 2026-03-02 12:55 | spill, 173 min | ~3.0 km |
| 2026-02-27 21:40 | spill, 9018 min | ~0.2 km |
| 2026-02-27 21:40 | spill, 9018 min | ~0.2 km |
| 2026-02-27 18:45 | spill, 16 min | ~2.4 km |
| 2026-02-27 18:45 | spill, 16 min | ~2.4 km |
| 2026-02-25 12:14 | spill, 6 min | ~2.1 km |
| 2026-02-25 12:14 | spill, 6 min | ~2.1 km |
| 2026-02-05 09:27 | spill, 3 min | ~3.4 km |
| 2026-02-05 09:27 | spill, 3 min | ~3.4 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 | 10 cfu/100ml | 10 cfu/100ml | 0 |
| 2020 | — | 3 | 19 cfu/100ml | 29 cfu/100ml | 0 |
| 2021 | — | 5 | 14 cfu/100ml | 12 cfu/100ml | 0 |
| 2022 | — | 10 | 14 cfu/100ml | 15 cfu/100ml | 0 |
| 2023 | — | 10 | 11 cfu/100ml | 13 cfu/100ml | 0 |
| 2024 | — | 10 | 14 cfu/100ml | 13 cfu/100ml | 0 |
| 2025 | excellent | 20 | 11 cfu/100ml | 10 cfu/100ml | 0 |
| 2026 | — | 20 | 11 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.
Watergate Bay — frequently asked questions
Is it safe to swim at Watergate Bay today?
Watergate Bay 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 Watergate Bay?
132 storm-overflow spills were recorded near Watergate Bay in 2025 (EA Event Duration Monitoring), and 54 spill events have been logged nearby so far this year.
What is Watergate Bay's bathing water classification?
Watergate Bay 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, 5 outfalls monitored within 5 km.
- Risk model
- v0.4
- Download
- Sample timeline (JSON) · All beaches (CSV)
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