Can you swim at Hillhead?

Caution. Sewage discharge 8.9km away 2 days ago. Hillhead is a designated bathing water, so it is sampled and rated every season. This answer covers water quality only, not tides, currents or lifeguard cover.

What is the water quality like at Hillhead?

Hillhead is rated Excellent in the regulator's latest annual classification, a percentile taken over readings from up to four bathing seasons. The most recent sample, taken 23 August 2026, showed 10 cfu/100ml of E. coli and 10 cfu/100ml of intestinal enterococci.

Has there been sewage at Hillhead recently?

Yes. 2 storm overflows within ten kilometres of Hillhead: 2 in the last 48 hours.

← All bathing waters

England · Fareham

Wednesday 2 September

Hillhead

Caution. Sewage discharge 8.9km away 2 days ago.

Water quality only This says nothing about tides, rip currents, cold water shock or lifeguard cover. Cold water and currents are dangerous even when the water is clean. Read the local signs before you go in. What we cannot tell you.

Checked 03:24 UK time

Why this verdict

Discharge nearby: 8.9km 2 days ago (negative factor)
Annual classification: Excellent (positive factor)
Pollution risk forecast: Normal (positive factor)
Rainfall (24h): 0mm (positive factor)
Latest E. coli: 10 cfu/100ml (positive factor)
Latest intestinal enterococci: 10 cfu/100ml (positive factor)

Recent sewage discharges nearby

Storm overflows operated by Southern Water Services Limited within ten kilometres in the last 48 hours.

Ended 2 days ago

SWS00664 · into PORTSMOUTH HARBOUR

8.9km from the bathing water
Ended 2 days ago

SWS00730 · into HAMBLE

9.4km from the bathing water

See every spill happening now across the UK →

Latest bacteria reading

Latest sample · 23 August 2026 · 9 days ago

E. coli: 10cfu/100ml
Intestinal enterococci: 10cfu/100ml

The regulator samples weekly during the bathing season. E. coli and intestinal enterococci are the indicator organisms used in the official classification.

Sewage spills, 2023 to 2025

The Environment Agency links 7 storm overflows to Hillhead. In 2025 they discharged 34 times.

Counted spills a year at the overflows feeding this bathing water.

2023

2024

2025

Up 6% since 2023, from 32 spills to 34.

Counting every monitored overflow within ten kilometres instead, whether or not it drains here, gives 1,319 spills across 89 overflows in 2025.

Common questions

Can you swim at Hillhead?: Caution. Sewage discharge 8.9km away 2 days ago. Hillhead is a designated bathing water, so it is sampled and rated every season. This answer covers water quality only, not tides, currents or lifeguard cover.
What is the water quality like at Hillhead?: Hillhead is rated Excellent in the regulator's latest annual classification, a percentile taken over readings from up to four bathing seasons. The most recent sample, taken 23 August 2026, showed 10 cfu/100ml of E. coli and 10 cfu/100ml of intestinal enterococci.
Has there been sewage at Hillhead recently?: Yes. 2 storm overflows within ten kilometres of Hillhead: 2 in the last 48 hours.

Where this data comes from

Contains water-company storm overflow data, licensed under OGL v3
Spill counts from the Environment Agency EDM Storm Overflow Annual Returns, 2021 to 2025, published annually.
View the regulator's full profile

Other beaches nearby

Rated Excellent Lee-on-Solent Gosport Rated Excellent Calshot New Forest Rated Good Stokes Bay Gosport Rated Excellent East Cowes Isle of Wight

Cleanest beaches in England →

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Gareth Clubb