The Environment Agency has undertaken official seawater monitoring in Worthing since 1990. Seawater samples are currently taken from a sample site located at Heene Road in Central Worthing. During the bathing season one sample will be taken from the site on a weekly basis throughout the period May to September.

The Environment Agency notifies the Council of the results and Council Officers update the Bathing Water Quality posters every week. The public information posters are displayed in three locations in Worthing; the Tourist Information Office next to the pier, the Beach Office next to the Lido and the Sea Lane Café, located on Marine Crescent, Goring.

The EU ‘Mandatory‘ standards for bathing water quality set limits of 10,000 total coliform organisms and 2,000 faecal coliform organisms per 100ml sample. Annually, 95% of samples must meet these limits for the bathing water to be classified as ‘good’. If more than one of the twenty samples fails to meet the standard then the water is classified as ‘poor’ for the year.

For water quality to be classified as ‘excellent’ for the year, 80% of the samples taken must meet the higher EU guideline standard of less than 500 total coliform organisms, less than 100 faecal coliform organisms and less than 100 Faecal Streptococci per 100ml sample.

2008 Season Results

The full 2008 season results are now available. The 15th of September was the last monitoring date for 2008.

Key

Excellent

Water quality in the sample met the Directives most stringent Guidelines

• Total coliforms no more than 500 per 100ml of water         
• Faecal coliforms no more than 100 per 100ml of water
• Faecal Streptococci no more than 100 per 100ml of water
  

Good

Water quality in the sample met the Directives main Mandatory standards

• Total coliforms no more than 10,000 per 100ml of water
• Faecal coliforms no more than 2,000 per 100ml of water   
  

Poor

Water quality in the sample failed to meet the main Mandatory standards

Archived Results

• Results for 2007

Frequently Asked Questions: Bathing Water Quality

What is the bathing water standard?

The directive sets limits for a number of substances, and all countries in the European Union have to ensure their popular beaches meet these standards.

What are coliforms?           

The Coliform group of bacteria are the most important of the Directive standards tested for.  In general these can be taken as an indication of sewage contamination.

How is water quality assessed over the bathing season?

In accordance with the Bathing Water Directive:

• Guideline: Over a bathing season 80% of samples must be equal to or better than the Faecal coliform Guideline Standards and 90% equal to or better than, the Faecal Streptococci Guideline Standard.  
• Mandatory: Over a bathing season 95% of samples taken must be equal to or better than the main Mandatory standards          

Bathing water quality results from previous years are available from the Environment Agency website.

Further information about the bathing water quality sampling scheme can be obtained from:

• Environment Agency,
  Southern Region,
  Guildbourne House,
  Chatsworth Road,
  Worthing,
  West Sussex,
  BN11 1LD
• Tel: 01903 832000

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