Bathing Water Quality Guide

Sewage or Algae?

Every year we receive many reports of suspected sewage pollution that are in fact the breakdown of algal blooms

Algae blooms are easy to mistake for sewage, but foam on the water in coastal locations is more likely to be caused by algae than by sewage. Some algae blooms can be toxic, so it's best to avoid them.

The Environment Agency has produced this useful blog that can help you to tell the difference, and what you should do if you do see pollution at the coast.