All of Lincolnshire's bathing waters rated Excellent or Good

Since the current classification system started in 2015, all nine coastal bathing sites in Lincolnshire have been rated Excellent or Good each year. And since being designated as official bathing water sites in 2023, the two sites in Rutland have also been consistently Excellent or Good.

Yvonne Daly, Area Environment Manager, said:

“It is great news that the 11 bathing waters across Lincolnshire and Rutland have once again maintained their high standards for bathing water quality.

“Our continuous sampling and monitoring from May to September helps to ensure accurate classifications and provide real benefits to both the local community and the economy.

“The results reflect the dedication of our teams and partners who work to protect and care for our environment.”

These latest results are based on the last four years of testing by the Environment Agency, which monitors for indicators of pollution known to be associated with risks to bathers’ health, specifically E. coli and intestinal enterococci.

Bathing water quality in England has improved dramatically since the 1990s, following decades of regulation, investment and partnership work.

Across the country 87% meet standards for Excellent or Good classification, an improvement on 2024, meaning swimmers can benefit from a higher number of better-quality bathing sites than last year.

Each bathing water has its own pressures, and many factors can influence bathing water quality including storm overflows, rainwater running off farmland and roads, and other local issues.

Alongside the annual classifications, the government’s new Bathing Water Regulation reforms came into force on 21 November, designed to more closely reflect how people use beaches, lakes and rivers.

The Environment Agency encourages people to use Swimfo, its online service providing the latest information on bathing water quality, helping the public make informed decisions about where and when to swim.