Sea water monitoring

2021 monitoring calendar and results

Source: Environmental Health, download the data

cfu = colony forming units

< = is less than the given value

Results from Jersey are submitted to the Marine Conservation Society for inclusion in the UK Good Beach Guide.

The above ratings are a weekly snapshot of bathing water quality, however, the full classification is calculated annually for each bathing water site, based on all of the samples from the previous four years.

​	Excellent Water Quality: Indicates this sample meets the following standard: less than or equal to 250 Escherichia coli per 100ml less than or equal to 100 Intestinal enterococci per 100ml​
​​	​Good Water Quality: Indicates this sample meets the following standard: less than or equal to 500 Escherichia coli per 100ml less than or equal to 200 Intestinal enterococci per 100ml
​​	Poor water indicates values are above 500 Escherichia coli per 100ml and above 200 Intestinal enterococci per 100ml​

We monitor sea water as part of the Bathing Water Directive.

The quality of sea water around Jersey's coast is important for a number of reasons:

• the health of the public swimming in those bays and for those involved in water sports
• detection of pollution within the environment
• providing information to the aquaculture industry, for example oyster or mussel farming

Jersey prides itself on having some of the cleanest beaches in Europe.  Results from Jersey are submitted to the Marine Conservation Society for inclusion in the UK Good Beach Guide

2021 Sea water monitoring schedule

The 2021 season runs from Tuesday 11 May to Wednesday 22 September, with the most recent results reported in the table at the top of this page.

Bouley Bay, Greve de Lecq, St Brelade, La Haule, Victoria Pool and Grouville will be sampled 20 times during the bathing season. Plémont, Watersplash, Le Braye,  Beauport, Portelet, Havre des Pas, Green Island and Archirondel will be sampled 10 times during the bathing season as these sites have consistently excellent water quality.

2018 sea water quality ​results

During the 2018 summer season, 9 of Jersey's bathing water sites of 'Excellent' quality, 2 were 'Good' quality and one was 'Sufficient' quality.

'Excellent' quality classification

• Archirondel
• Beauport
• Green Island
• Grève de Lecq
• Havre Des Pas
• Le Braye
• Plémont
• Portelet
• Watersplash

'Good' quality classification

• ​​St Brelade
• ​Victoria Pool
• Grouville

'Sufficient' quality classification

• ​Bouley Bay
• ​Le Haule

'Poor' quality classification

• ​No bathing water sites were rated as 'poor' quality

​​​​Quality of sea water

The sampling and analysis of sea water is carried out by Environmental Health. The quality of sea water around Jersey’s coast is important for a number of reasons:

• the health of the public swimming in those bays and for those involved in water sports
• detection of pollution within the environment
• providing information to the aquaculture industry, for example oyster or mussel farming

Jersey prides itself on having some of the cleanest beaches in Europe.

Sea water profiles

A profile has been produced for each of Jersey's monitored sea waters. Each profile includes:

• a photograph, description, map of the sea water and surrounding area
• an identification of potential sources of pollution and measures to reduce pollution
• the telephone number to report water pollution and contact details for further information

​Archirondel	​La Haule
Beauport​	Le Braye​
Bouley Bay​	​Plémont
Green Island​	​Portelet
Greve de Lecq	​St Brelade's Bay
Grouville​	​Victoria Pool
Havre des Pas​	​Watersplash

When did sea water quality monitoring begin?

Monitoring started in 1992. We now classify our beaches following guidance from the European Directive and by the World Health Organisation.

From 2015 bathing water classifications throughout Europe are based on sampling data collected over 4 years.