Bathing-water questions, answered plainly.

Does “Excellent” mean it is safe to swim today?

No. It is an annual classification based on monitored microbiological quality. Temporary pollution, algae, weather, currents, closures or other local hazards can change current conditions.

What does “Poor” mean?

It is the lowest annual quality class under the Bathing Water Directive assessment. Check the relevant national or local authority for restrictions and current advice.

What does the assessment measure?

The classification focuses on microbiological indicators, especially Escherichia coli and intestinal enterococci. It is not a universal test for every chemical, algae species or physical hazard.

Why are some sites “Not classified”?

A site can lack a classification for reasons including insufficient samples, a new bathing water, changes in the monitoring record or other official reporting circumstances. We preserve the source value.

How current is the data?

The site records the EEA bathing season used at deployment. Current-day warnings should always be checked with the competent authority.

Does “near me” upload my location?

The finder requests browser geolocation only after you click the button. Distance calculations are performed in your browser and the finder does not intentionally transmit your coordinates to our server.