Two stretches of coastline in Sussex have been deemed unsuitable for swimming after receiving the lowest possible rating for water cleanliness.
As the warmer seasons approach, many people will flock to seaside destinations to make the most of the weather.
Taking a dip is often a key part of a trip to the coast, which is why the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs evaluates bathing waters for their quality.
Sussex boasts numerous excellent options, though two on the official register fall into the lowest category.
How does the DEFRA classification system work?
The government department categorises water quality into four tiers:
Excellent – the top tier representing the cleanest standard
Good – generally acceptable water conditions
Sufficient – meeting the baseline requirements
Poor – falling short of the minimum threshold
According to figures from November 2025, 87 percent of England’s official bathing waters achieved either Excellent or Good status, with 417 locations (93 percent) satisfying minimum criteria.
While 297 locations secured an Excellent classification, 32 locations (7 percent) received a Poor rating.
These assessments draw on four years of monitoring conducted by the Environment Agency, which tests for pollutants recognised as potential threats to swimmers’ wellbeing, notably E. coli and intestinal enterococci.
Every bathing area faces its own set of challenges, with numerous elements capable of affecting water standards such as stormwater overflows, farming drainage, bird populations, canine visitors, and other localised concerns.
The two Sussex locations flagged as unsuitable for aquatic activities
Using this information, Locals Insider identified 20 coastal areas where the public has been warned to avoid entering the water due to substandard quality.
Prominent holiday destinations including Blackpool, Scarborough, and Weston-super-Mare appear on this list alongside two Sussex stretches.
Sussex contains 30 official bathing spots, with two appearing on the warning register.
The first is Worthing Beach House close to Splashpoint, which maintained its Poor rating from 2024.
The second is Aldwick beach in Bognor, where DEFRA has issued guidance against bathing and swimming at both locations.
Worthing Council has previously stated that efforts are underway to enhance public signage and that the town anticipates welcoming a community science initiative that will allow residents to participate in monitoring local seawater quality.
Arun District Council, responsible for the Bognor location, has previously indicated that the classification does not reflect improvements made since the original rating and that samples collected this year show significant enhancement.
The authority also highlighted the Yellow Fish programme, an initiative that uses stickers and notices to inform the public about how contaminants entering surface drains ultimately reach the sea, which was similarly introduced in Worthing.
The most recent DEFRA figures show that Rottingdean’s bathing area has progressed from Good to Excellent, the highest category, joining Kemp Town and Saltdean.
The sections at Goring beach and central Worthing, adjacent to Heene Road, have now reached Good status, having previously been classified as Sufficient.
Overall, 14 locations in Sussex hold an Excellent rating, 12 stand at Good, two at Sufficient, and two at Poor.