Can you swim at River Avon at Fordingbridge?

No. Annual classification is Poor and bathing is advised against. River Avon at Fordingbridge 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 River Avon at Fordingbridge?

River Avon at Fordingbridge is rated Poor 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 170 cfu/100ml of E. coli and 60 cfu/100ml of intestinal enterococci.

Has there been sewage at River Avon at Fordingbridge recently?

No. No storm overflow within ten kilometres of River Avon at Fordingbridge has discharged in the last 48 hours.

← All bathing waters

England · New Forest

Wednesday 2 September

River Avon at Fordingbridge

No. Annual classification is Poor and bathing is advised against.

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 03:27 UK time

Why this verdict

Annual classification: Poor (negative factor)
Pollution risk forecast: Normal (positive factor)
Rainfall (24h): 0mm (positive factor)
Latest E. coli: 170 cfu/100ml (positive factor)
Latest intestinal enterococci: 60 cfu/100ml (positive factor)

Latest bacteria reading

Latest sample · 27 August 2026 · 5 days ago

E. coli: 170cfu/100ml
Intestinal enterococci: 60cfu/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, 2025

The Environment Agency links 1 storm overflow to River Avon at Fordingbridge. In 2025 it discharged 31 times.

Counting every monitored overflow within ten kilometres instead, whether or not it drains here, gives 181 spills across 8 overflows in 2025.

Common questions

Can you swim at River Avon at Fordingbridge?: No. Annual classification is Poor and bathing is advised against. River Avon at Fordingbridge 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 River Avon at Fordingbridge?: River Avon at Fordingbridge is rated Poor 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 170 cfu/100ml of E. coli and 60 cfu/100ml of intestinal enterococci.
Has there been sewage at River Avon at Fordingbridge recently?: No. No storm overflow within ten kilometres of River Avon at Fordingbridge 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

Unclassified River Avon at Queen Elizabeth Gardens Wiltshire Rated Excellent Christchurch Highcliffe Castle Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Rated Excellent Highcliffe Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Rated Excellent Friar's Cliff, Christchurch Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole

Cleanest beaches in New Forest →

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