Plan a better beach day with dog access and water-quality information.
A designated bathing water is a swimming spot officially recognised under the Bathing Water Regulations 2013. The Environment Agency samples its water quality weekly from May to September and publishes an annual classification (Excellent, Good, Sufficient or Poor). That is where the water-quality badges come from. Designation says nothing about lifeguards, safety patrols or facilities; it is purely about water-quality monitoring. Beaches marked “Not an EA bathing water” can be just as good, but they have no official monitoring record. Bathing at non-designated beaches is still allowed (designation is not a permission scheme) unless a local byelaw or harbour authority restricts it, for example inside ports and harbours. There is just no water testing or pollution alerting.