Can you swim at Leysdown?

Caution. Sewage discharge 8.2km away 2 days ago. Leysdown 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 Leysdown?

Leysdown is rated Good in the regulator's latest annual classification, a percentile taken over readings from up to four bathing seasons. The most recent sample, taken 25 August 2026, showed 27 cfu/100ml of E. coli and 27 cfu/100ml of intestinal enterococci.

Has there been sewage at Leysdown recently?

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

← All bathing waters

England · Swale

Wednesday 2 September

Leysdown

Caution. Sewage discharge 8.2km 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: 8.2km 2 days ago (negative factor)
Annual classification: Good (positive factor)
Pollution risk forecast: Normal (positive factor)
Rainfall (24h): 0mm (positive factor)
Latest E. coli: 27 cfu/100ml (positive factor)
Latest intestinal enterococci: 27 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

SWS00359 · into NORTH SEA

8.2km from the bathing water
Ended 2 days ago

SWS00004 · into FAVERSHAM CREEK

8.8km from the bathing water

See every spill happening now across the UK →

Latest bacteria reading

Latest sample · 25 August 2026 · 7 days ago

E. coli: 27cfu/100ml
Intestinal enterococci: 27cfu/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, 2021 to 2025

The Environment Agency links 4 storm overflows to Leysdown. In 2025 they discharged 13 times.

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

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

Down 67% since 2021, from 39 spills to 13.

Counting every monitored overflow within ten kilometres instead, whether or not it drains here, gives 131 spills across 21 overflows in 2025.

Common questions

Can you swim at Leysdown?: Caution. Sewage discharge 8.2km away 2 days ago. Leysdown 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 Leysdown?: Leysdown is rated Good in the regulator's latest annual classification, a percentile taken over readings from up to four bathing seasons. The most recent sample, taken 25 August 2026, showed 27 cfu/100ml of E. coli and 27 cfu/100ml of intestinal enterococci.
Has there been sewage at Leysdown recently?: Yes. 2 storm overflows within ten kilometres of Leysdown: 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 West Beach, Whitstable Canterbury Rated Excellent Minster Leas Swale Rated Excellent Tankerton Canterbury Rated Excellent Sheerness Swale

Cleanest beaches in England →

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Gareth Clubb