Can you swim at Penzance?

No. Latest sample showed 2400 intestinal enterococci cfu/100ml. Penzance 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 Penzance?

Penzance 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 27 August 2026, showed 350 cfu/100ml of E. coli and 2400 cfu/100ml of intestinal enterococci.

Has there been sewage at Penzance recently?

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

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England · Cornwall

Wednesday 2 September

Penzance

No. Latest sample showed 2400 intestinal enterococci cfu/100ml.

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 03:25 UK time

Why this verdict

Latest intestinal enterococci: 2400 cfu/100ml (negative factor)
Annual classification: Excellent (positive factor)
Pollution risk forecast: Normal (positive factor)
Rainfall (24h): 0mm (positive factor)
Latest E. coli: 350 cfu/100ml (positive factor)

Latest bacteria reading

Latest sample · 27 August 2026 · 5 days ago

E. coli: 350cfu/100ml
Intestinal enterococci: 2400cfu/100ml

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

Storm overflows nearby

The Environment Agency does not link any storm overflow directly to Penzance, so there is no spill record for it. There were 15 monitored overflows within ten kilometres in 2025, whether or not they drain here.

Common questions

Can you swim at Penzance?: No. Latest sample showed 2400 intestinal enterococci cfu/100ml. Penzance 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 Penzance?: Penzance 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 27 August 2026, showed 350 cfu/100ml of E. coli and 2400 cfu/100ml of intestinal enterococci.
Has there been sewage at Penzance recently?: No. No storm overflow within ten kilometres of Penzance 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 Excellent Wherry Town Cornwall Rated Excellent Long Rock Cornwall Rated Excellent Marazion Cornwall Rated Excellent Perranuthnoe Cornwall

Cleanest beaches in Cornwall →

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Gareth Clubb