We have four designated bathing waters in North Somerset:
- Weston Main
- Uphill slipway
- Sand Bay
- Clevedon
The bathing water season runs from 15 May to 30 September each year. This is when the Environment Agency tests the water every week for levels of bacteria.
Bacteria levels in the water
Bacteria in the water comes from a number of sources and can vary. The three main sources are:
- water draining from farms and towns during heavy rain
- rainwater filling the sewage systems during heavy rain and overflowing into rivers and the sea
- these are known as storm water overflows and happen during periods of heavy rain to prevent homes from flooding
- homes and businesses draining dirty water into the wrong pipes
- flushing the wrong things down the toilet which causes blockages and which leads to overflow in the sewers.
Members of the public can also play a big part by not dropping litter and picking up dog poo on our beaches.
Where to check bathing water quality
Further information on the current water quality of all our bathing sites can be found on the Swimingo widgets on this page. You can also check it on the Swimfo website.