Bathing water quality at Heacham beach near Hunstanton in Norfolk has improved, according to the latest Environment Agency (EA) results, moving from a longstanding poor rating to sufficient. The site had been classed as poor since 2021, though some critics have questioned whether the upgrade reflects reality.
Other beaches in the region also saw improvements. Wells-next-the-Sea and Caister-on-Sea in Norfolk, and Holland-on-Sea and Jaywick in Essex, were upgraded from good to excellent. Meanwhile, Hunstanton Main and Old beaches, along with Manningtree in Essex, rose from sufficient to good.
“This season has brought encouraging news for local bathing water quality,” said Andrew Raine, EA’s water manager in East Anglia. He highlighted Heacham’s improvement and the four other sites that had achieved excellent ratings.
However, not all changes were positive. Shoeburyness in Essex was downgraded from excellent to good. Mr Raine stressed that work would continue with various organisations to prevent pollution and further improve water quality.
Across England, thirty-two sites were classified as poor in the 2025 figures, an improvement on the 37 that failed to meet minimum standards last year. In East Anglia, more than 97% of bathing spots now meet sufficient or higher standards for bacteria linked to sewage spills, agricultural runoff, and other pollutants.
Despite the progress, critics remain unconvinced. Kirsty Davies, community water quality manager at Surfers Against Sewage, said the classifications were “dangerously out of touch with reality” and argued that regulations are outdated. She pointed out that testing occurs only once a week during a short bathing season and only for a limited number of pollutants.
“How can anyone claim places like Heacham have improved, when locals know it is still plagued by pollution?” Ms Davies said. She called for year-round testing and stronger regulations to protect people who swim, surf, snorkel, and kayak outside the official season.
Heacham’s pollution sources remain disputed. Studies suggest that up to 60% of intestinal enterococci bacteria in The Wash may come from seabirds, which flock to the area in large numbers. The council has indicated that local coastal waters may have naturally high pollution levels.
The government has introduced new bathing water reforms aimed at better reflecting how people use coastal spots. Testing will no longer be restricted to a fixed season, and the definition of a bather will now include water sports enthusiasts such as surfers, paddleboarders, and kayakers. Under the new rules, poor water quality ratings will not automatically lead to a site losing its official status after five consecutive years, with issues assessed individually instead.
