How to test the quality of Open Water for bathing or swimming

Open Water Swimming TestThere is always a greater risk of infection or illness caused by microorganisms when swimming in open water (lakes, rivers etc) compared to a chemically treated swimming pool. This guide aims to help identify most appropriate water quality monitoring and testing (*For full details please refer to the guidelines published by the relevant authorities/bodies – our recommendations below can not replace consultation of guidelines issued by local authorities and bodies). Sewage pumped into rivers and seas by water companies can cause illness and feeling of being unwell. Germs and pollutants can be carried into water by heavy rain. Swimmers can fall sick as microorganisms enter the body via a cut or a splash in the face. Common illnesses include gastroenteritis, ear, nose & throat infections,  skin & urinary tract infections. A bacteria test can detect sewage / faecal bacteria in water – for details see below under ‘Recommended Tests’.

Testing open waters is important to make sure that you do not put yourself or others at risk from illnesses.

Guidelines and regulations for open water swimming: Swimming in inland water in the UK is regulated by the Bathing Water Regulations 1991 & 2013. Detailed information about Bathing Water Quality is also provided on this page by the Environment Agency. The European Union (EU) has created a directive concerning the management of bathing water quality; it includes guidelines that all bathing water in the EU should meet (EC Bathing Water Directive 2006/7/EC). The World Health Organisation (WHO) has published a review of these guidelines.
The EU directive and UK Bathing Water Regulations 1991 & 2013 are aimed primarily at those looking to offer their open water to the general public. Both are however a great source to give an insight into what is deemed acceptable water quality for people to swim in. TriathlonScotland has also published a very useful Guidance on Water Quality for Open Water Events. British Triathlon Federation (BTF) events are measured against the EC Bathing Water Directive 2006/7/EC and the BTF requirement is usually that the Excellent threshold is met.

Below you find a general summary of the guidelines in the United Kingdom (UK), which follows similar guidelines to the EU. In addition to this, please make sure that you always check your local guidelines to make sure that everyone is safe. If you plan to open your water to the general public you must strictly adhere to the guidelines set by the UK and laboratory testing is adviced.

How often should I check the water: It is recommended to check the quality of the water regularly, ideally at the start of the bathing season, every 2-4 weeks, before any event, when there are visible changes to the water, after heavy rainfall as well as at the end of the bathing season. The pH should be monitored more often as it can be an early indicator of changes in water quality, this is because it is affected by algae and weed growth, agricultural run-off as well as waste water from industry.

How many water samples should I take and where should I collect them: This varies depending on the water body, its size and the purpose of the testing. It is recommended to take the water samples from the part of the water body which is used for swimming, specially the entry points. If the swimming area is large you might want to take a number of samples across the different parts of the water. You might also decide to take additional samples at inlets, specially if they are from farmland/ agricultural land.

How to take a water sample: With the exception of algal blooms, samples should be taken 30cm below the water surface, in water which is at least 1m deep and where most bathers are expected. Samples should be transported as soon as possible after collection in a cool box (we provide a cool box as well as ice packs) so that they arrive at the laboratory within 24 hours. Bacteria samples are to be taken using a sterile bottle. To avoid accidental contamination, the sampler is to employ an aseptic technique (there is no further need for sterile equipment such as gloves if this is done properly).

Classification and understanding results: The water quality is generally classed as excellent, good, sufficient or poor – based on the number of colony forming units per 100ml (cfu/100ml). Swimming should not take place in poor quality water. The Bathing Water guidelines in the table below are used for classification after longterm testing. For irregular and one-off tests, the standards for excellent / sufficient / poor are considered most approriate. The rating of good should be looked at for regular testing only where the results are averaged out (see * & ** for the percentiles).

The criteria for coastal and inland bathing waters are different. The thresholds for classifications are as follows:

Parameter Value Maximum
Escherichia Coli (E.coli) (cfu/100ml) Inland Waters: excellent: <500*, good: <1000*, sufficient: <900**, poor (= FAIL): >900

Coastal Waters: excellent: <250*, good: <500*, sufficient: <500**, poor (= FAIL): >500

(*95th percentile, **90th percentile)
Intestinal enterococci (cfu/100ml) Inland Waters: excellent: <200*, good: <400*, sufficient: <330**, poor (= FAIL): >330

Coastal Waters: excellent: <100*, good: <200*, sufficient: <185**, poor (= FAIL): >185

(*95th percentile, **90th percentile)
pH 6 to 9
Blue-green algae (cells/ml)*** If visible bloom, count should be carried out; low: <20,000; moderate: >20,000 – <100,000; high (= FAIL): >100,000
Conductivity The purer the water the lower the conductivity
Appearance No abnormal change in colour
Odour None
Transparency >1 metre
Surfactants No lasting foam
Mineral Oils No surface film or odour
Phenols No phenolic odour

***Please note, that not all species of blue-green algae are toxic and further investigation may be advisable where moderate levels are recorded. The Environment Agency provides species-specific values which should be looked at.

These guidelines refer to regular monitoring where bathing sites receive a classification. For the classification, a regular monitoring schedule is necessary, the classification is based on a statistical measure of all samples, known as a percentile. Percentiles use the range of all samples taken to estimate the probability of higher results occurring. The classification uses either the 95% or 90% percentile depending on the classification.

Recommended Tests for Open Water Swimming:

Laboratory Tests: to test water for public use, a laboratory test is recommended. The results of the bacteria laboratory test are  presented in cfu/100ml (cfu=colony forming units). With each lab test a test report is issued. Here is a selection of relevant tests:

All our laboratory tests are suitable to check brackish/salty sea water. For the full range of laboratory tests, please click here. If you are planning on carrying out various or regular tests, then please contact us for a specific quote.

Field/Home Screening Tests for fresh water: field test kits provide instant results (these are suitable for fresh water only and are screening tests). Below is a selection of products:

open water swimming tests safe swimming

Field/Home Screening Tests for sea/brackish water: field test kits which provide instant results

  • Field/Home Screening Teststrips: 5-in-One to test pH, Total Alkalinity, Nitrate, Nitrite and Total Hardness (these test strips can be used for fresh as well as salt water)
  • Photometer: For regular self testing we can recommend the photometer test marine/salt water iDip 570 Photometer for marine/salt water.

 

Swimming Pools & Spas:  These guidelines are designed to give general information about regulations for open water swimming, this includes lakes, rivers etc. Different recommendations exist for swimming pools & spas – please refer to separate guidelines for these. Click here for our wide range of test strips for Pools & Spas. The iDip photometer Pool & Spa is ideal for regular testing of public pools and commcercial use. For more information about how to look after your hot tub safely and test the water regularly, click here.

 

Bacteria Test Strips 15 Minute for Swimming, Pool & Spa

Further Free Resources:

Got a question about water testing? Try our complete list of Free Water Testing Resources. Here are the most frequently read guides:

If you can’t find what you are looking for then please contact us, as we can source many other test kits. Discounts for bulk purchases available, please contact us to find out more.

Disclaimer: All guidelines and recommendations accurate at time of publishing. Please check current regional / local guidelines relevant to your situation. We can not be held responsible for any information published on this webpage. The limits provided are for guidance only, we do not provide compliance statements. If the results are being used for compliance to a specific requirement or standard, then please use this for reference. Only opinions based upon our own personal experience or information available in the public domain is cited. This has been done exclusively for anyone who is interested in this subject but is not intended to replace proper research & analysis. We cannot accept responsibility and liability of any kind which may result from the application of this information. We always recommend to consult an expert to discuss any test results or get a full recommendation on the specific subject and specific to your situation by an expert. We also recommend to check if there is any newer or later information on this subject.

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