Can you swim at Mothecombe?

Yes. Good water quality and no sewage in the last 48 hours. Mothecombe 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 Mothecombe?

Mothecombe 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 26 August 2026, showed 18 cfu/100ml of E. coli and 10 cfu/100ml of intestinal enterococci.

Has there been sewage at Mothecombe recently?

No. No storm overflow within ten kilometres of Mothecombe has discharged in the last 48 hours.

← All bathing waters

England · South Hams

Wednesday 2 September

Mothecombe

Yes. Good 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 03:24 UK time

Why this verdict

Annual classification: Good (positive factor)
Pollution risk forecast: Normal (positive factor)
Rainfall (24h): 0mm (positive factor)
Latest E. coli: 18 cfu/100ml (positive factor)
Latest intestinal enterococci: 10 cfu/100ml (positive factor)

Latest bacteria reading

Latest sample · 26 August 2026 · 6 days ago

E. coli: 18cfu/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 11 storm overflows to Mothecombe. In 2025 they discharged 347 times.

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

309

2022

465

2023

442

2024

347

2025

Up 12% since 2022, from 309 spills to 347.

Counting every monitored overflow within ten kilometres instead, whether or not it drains here, gives 890 spills across 40 overflows in 2025.

Common questions

Can you swim at Mothecombe?: Yes. Good water quality and no sewage in the last 48 hours. Mothecombe 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 Mothecombe?: Mothecombe 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 26 August 2026, showed 18 cfu/100ml of E. coli and 10 cfu/100ml of intestinal enterococci.
Has there been sewage at Mothecombe recently?: No. No storm overflow within ten kilometres of Mothecombe has discharged in the last 48 hours.

Where this data comes from

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 Poor Coastguards Beach, Erme Estuary South Hams Rated Excellent Challaborough South Hams Rated Excellent Bigbury-on-Sea North South Hams Rated Excellent Bigbury-on-Sea South South Hams

Cleanest beaches in South Hams →

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Gareth Clubb