← All bathing waters

England · Dorset

Hive

Yes. Excellent water quality and no sewage in the last 48 hours.

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 UK time

Why this verdict

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)

Latest bacteria reading

Latest sample · 18 August 2026 · 2 weeks 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, 2022 to 2025

The Environment Agency links 1 storm overflow to Hive. It did not discharge at all in 2025.

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

Counting every monitored overflow within ten kilometres instead, whether or not it drains here, gives 508 spills across 23 overflows in 2025.

Common questions

Can you swim at Hive?
Yes. Excellent water quality and no sewage in the last 48 hours. Hive 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 Hive?
Hive 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 18 August 2026, showed 10 cfu/100ml of E. coli and 10 cfu/100ml of intestinal enterococci.
Has there been sewage at Hive recently?
No. No storm overflow within ten kilometres of Hive has discharged in the last 48 hours.

Where this data comes from

  • Contains Environment Agency information © Environment Agency and database right
  • 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

Cleanest beaches in Dorset →

Built by one person

This site is free and always will be. There are no adverts and nothing to sign up for. I pay for the domain and the hosting, so if today's answer was useful you can buy me a coffee(opens in a new tab).

Gareth Clubb