Hunstanton beach water remains safe to swim in despite contrasting reports, says Environment Agency

Hunstanton’s water remains safe to swim in despite reports suggesting otherwise, the Environment Agency has said.

Other media outlets have reported in recent days that no-swim orders had been put in place at beaches in Hunstanton and Old Hunstanton.

However, the Environment Agency has confirmed that there have been no reports of pollution at either location – and that the bathing water quality is still classed as ‘sufficient’.

Heacham remains classed as ‘poor’, and the agency does have advice against swimming there.

If a pollution risk forecast is put in place, it shows up on the specific bathing water profile on the Environment Agency’s website.

It is for councils to decide whether to warn swimmers against entering the water, but West Norfolk Council said last month that it would not dictate whether people should swim along the coast this summer.

Water companies each have their own system to inform bathers when their storm overflows operate, which provides additional information on water quality for the public.

A spokesperson from the Environment Agency said: “We issue daily pollution risk forecasts during the bathing water season (May to September), with forecasts being based on rainfall, wind, tidal patterns and historic sampling data.

“They are to alert people when water quality at designated bathing water sites may be poor.

“Thundery showers and intense rainfall increase the likelihood of pollution entering the sea and rivers from many sources, including agricultural runoff, storm overflows and highway drainage.”