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Bathing waters

The bathing waters website provides detailed information about the quality of designated bathing waters across Scotland.

Visit bathing waters

The website provides:

• Water quality forecasts: Check daily updates on whether the water quality at specific beaches is likely to be good or poor.
• Interactive map: A visual map allows users to explore different bathing locations and see their current status.
• Historical data: The site includes past water quality data, helping understand long-term trends at each location.
• Safety and environmental information: It offers guidance on what affects water quality, such as rainfall, pollution sources, and environmental conditions.
• Beach-specific pages: Each designated bathing water has its own page with detailed information, including water quality ratings, and any advisories.
• Real-time predictions: These are posted daily by 10:00 AM from 15 May to 15 September, which is the official bathing season in Scotland.

Bathing waters classification

The SEPA bathing water classification system is based on the Bathing Waters (Scotland) Regulations 2008 and follows the EU Bathing Water Directive (2006/7/EC).

Classification categories

Each designated bathing water is assigned one of four classifications:

• Excellent – Highest quality, safe for bathing with minimal health risk.
• Good – Generally safe, with slightly more variability in water quality.
• Sufficient – Meets minimum standards, but occasional pollution may occur.
• Poor – Fails to meet minimum standards; bathing is not advised.

How classifications are determined

• Based on four years of monitoring data.
• Classifications are calculated at the end of each bathing season and apply for the entire following season.