Water Quality Sampling Results

Chichester Harbour Conservancy, in conjunction with Chichester District Council monitor the quality of the water within the Chichester Harbour. Samples from 12 locations in the harbour are collected and tested twice a month during the summer months and monthly throughout the winter.

Although there are no regulatory standards for this area of water, the EU Bathing Water Standards are used as a guide. Chichester Harbour is not a designated bathing water site, however the test results can be viewed as an indicator of potential pollution levels at the time of testing.

Historical results are available on the Chichester District Council website.

Current water sampling results

Chichester Harbour Conservancy, in conjunction with Chichester District Council regularly monitors levels of e-coli and intestinal enterococci at 12 sites across the harbour. 

The levels are compared with EU Bathing Water Standards. 

Sample Date: 4th August 2025
Sample SiteTimeE.Coli (/100ml)Enterococci (/100ml)Compliant with minimum requirements of the EU BWD? (E.Coli ≤500cfu and Intestinal Enterococci ≤185cfu)
Nutbourne C10.57<10<10Yes
Cobnor Dinghy Park Slipway10.5630<10Yes
Bosham Quay Quayside11:05 2030Yes
Dell Quay Quayside10:21190060No
Northney Beacon10:3214010Yes
Furzefield Creek Ent10:45<10<10Yes
North of Dell Quay Mid-channel, near WWTW discharge point10:173600190No
CM Slipway10:3280<10Yes
Deep End Mid-channel near Cobnor Point10:51<10<10Yes
Emsworth Jetty10:19Not detected<10Yes
East Head Mid-channelMissing sample
CM Beacon10:2830<10Yes
Time of nearest High TideWind SpeedWind DirectionWeather% Cloud Cover
13:054-5SWShowersOvercast