Cornwall water quality
What the official classifications mean, why quality changes, and how to check any beach before you swim.
Cornwall has 90 designated bathing waters monitored by the Environment Agency. Each is given an annual classification — Excellent, Good, Sufficient or Poor — from bacteria samples (E. coli and intestinal enterococci) taken across the bathing season. Glanmor shows that official classification on every beach page, plus a live day-to-day risk rating that also factors in recent sewage spills, rainfall and tides.
Latest classifications across Cornwall
| Classification | Beaches |
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How daily risk differs from the annual classification
The annual classification is a long-term average; it doesn't tell you whether a sewage overflow discharged this morning. That's why Glanmor adds a live risk rating: a beach with an Excellent classification can still turn red today if a nearby storm overflow is actively discharging. Check both.
Frequently asked questions
What does the bathing water classification mean?
It's the Environment Agency's annual grade (Excellent/Good/Sufficient/Poor) from bacteria sampled across the season.
Why does water quality drop after rain?
Rain triggers storm overflows and washes run-off into the sea, so bacteria often rise for a day or two afterwards.
Check your beach
See live risk, recent spills and official samples for any Cornwall beach.
Browse all beaches