Bathing Waters

Live update information:

The 2023 bathing season has now closed.

18/09/2023 07:09:13

Scotland has over 80 designated bathing waters where we monitor water quality from 15 May to 15 September and publish the sampling results online.

The general water quality condition for each location is described by a classification statement – excellent, good, sufficient and poor – based on four years of monitoring data. These classifications are calculated at the end of one season for display at the start of the following season.

Daily water quality predictions are accessible from electronic information signs at selected bathing waters. This network allows us to inform the public about current bathing water quality and to advise of potentially poorer quality following a short-term pollution event. These predictions are available online.

Bathing water profiles provide more information about each site.

Improving Scotland’s water environment is a priority for us. We continue to work with our partners to raise all sites to the sufficient or better classification and to make our summer visits to the beach safer and more enjoyable.

How is the information made available?

During the bathing waters season, sampling results are published online, along with profiles for each bathing water which provide further information about each site.

Daily water quality predictions are accessible from electronic information signs at 29 bathing waters. This network allows us to inform the public about current bathing water quality and to advise of potentially poorer quality following a short-term pollution event.

At the close of the season, the water quality classifications are calculated and displayed on our website

Contact us

For more information about Scotland’s bathing waters or how to interpret and use data, please contact us.