Havant Borough is home to 37 miles of beautiful coastline for all to enjoy. The beaches feature long stretches of sand and shingle with plenty of space for swimming, sunbathing and an assortment of water sports.
The coastline of South Hayling is publicly accessible, from Sandy Point in the East to Ferry Point in the West. The locations most popular with bathers are formally designated bathing waters; these are the safest and cleanest locations for bathing and all benefit from nearby visitor facilities.
More information on each of the Hayling Island’s bathing waters can be found on the Environment Agency (EA) website or via our quick links below:
Bathing water information is also available on information signs located along the beach. The bathing season runs from 1 April to 30 September.
Designated bathing waters are tested and maintained according to specific regulations called the Bathing Water Regulations 2013 (SI No. 1675); the UK law which implements the EU Bathing Water Directive (2006/7/EC).
Under these regulations, the Environment Agency (EA) has a duty to provide the public with information about the bathing water and it’s catchment. The EA also determines an annual water quality classification for each bathing water area based upon the results of monitoring over the past four bathing seasons.
The bathing season runs from 1 April to 30 September.
Hayling Island bathing waters have received a water quality rating of ‘excellent’ every season since 2001.
The council also has a duty under these regulations to provide specific public health information for bathers, which can be found on the information signs located along the beach.
Check the quality of beach and bathing water quality on the GOV.UK website.
Beachbuoy gives you near real-time information about releases of stormwater or wastewater at your favourite spot.
The interactive map gives you updates about releases from combined sewer overflows (CSOs), so you know what is happening.
The Environment Agency is the relevant authority for water pollution. Incidents of pollution should be reported via their website or by calling 0800 80 70 60. If you can take a photo of the incident, this may prove helpful to identify the cause and type of pollution.
The Environment Agency will notify the council of the incident.
In addition to making a report to the Environment Agency, you can also report incidents of pollution directly to Havant Borough Council, either by notifying council staff onsite or by contacting us online.
The presence of waste materials that might cause physical injury, might entangle bathers, or which looks like tar, fats or oils should be reported to Havant Borough Council, and not to the Environment Agency.