Wild Swimming Water Quality: Why You Should Check Before Every Swim

One of the things I love most about wild swimming is that no two swims are ever the same, even when you’re returning to the same spot week after week.

The weather changes, the tide changes and the water changes all the time.

That's exactly why checking water quality should be part of your routine before every single wild swim.

Most of us already check the weather. We look at the wind, the waves and whether the midges are about to invade our personal space. Adding water quality to that routine is one of the easiest ways to look after yourself.

Why it matters

Contaminated water isn't just disgusting, let's face it, none of us want to be swimming in human waste, it can make you seriously ill.

Sewage pollution can contain harmful bacteria, viruses and parasites. Swallowing contaminated water, or getting it into your eyes, nose or an open cut, can lead to stomach bugs, vomiting, diarrhoea, ear infections, skin infections and other illnesses. For some people, including young children, older adults and those with weakened immune systems, the impact can be much more serious.

Current advice from Surfers Against Sewage suggests avoiding the water for at least 48 hours after heavy rainfall because of the increased risk of sewage pollution. You can read more here: https://www.sas.org.uk/water-quality/

Check every swim, not just after heavy rain

Most of us know to be extra cautious after heavy rain because storm overflows can discharge untreated sewage into rivers and the sea.

If you're a regular swimmer, you probably already know to check the water after a downpour.

The thing is, we should be checking before every single swim.

Recent events in Scotland are a reminder why. Kinghorn was recently affected by pollution concerns, and Portobello was temporarily closed to swimmers after elevated bacteria levels were detected. These aren't rare one-offs. They're happening at well-used beaches and swim spots around the country. You can read about the recent Kinghorn incident here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cdjkm1yx00lo

Water quality can change quickly, even at places you know well. A sunny day doesn't automatically mean safe water, which is why I always check the latest SEPA water quality information before I leave the house.

How I check before every swim

That's one of the reasons I built the Scotland Wild Swimming Map.

Before every wild swim I was flicking between weather forecasts, tide timetables and SEPA updates. Now I just open the map.

It puts everything I want to know in one place:

• Live weather

• Tide timetables

• Water temperature where available

• Direct links to SEPA water quality information

It's become part of my routine before every single swim.

If there is heavy rain, my mantra is simple: the water will still be there next week. If there's contamination, I can use the map to find another spot and still get safely into the water. One of the best things about swimming in Scotland is that we've got thousands of amazing places to choose from.

The map is completely free because I wanted planning a swim to be easier, safer and involve a lot less tab-hopping.

If your favourite swim spot isn't on there yet, let me know. I'll happily add it. The map has been been built by the wild swimming community from day one, and every new suggestion makes it even more useful for all of us.