Sheep's Green, River Cam
Caution
This spot's annual water-quality classification is Poor. Bathing isn't recommended.
Checked against the Environment Agency (England) · data last changed 2 months ago.
This spot’s record
Sheep's Green, River Cam is in Cambridge, about 45 km from Halstead. Sheep's Green, River Cam has been rated Poor in each of the 2 bathing seasons classified by the Environment Agency (England), 2024 through 2025. Across the 12 most recent samples published by the Environment Agency (England), E. coli counts ranged from 55 to 1,900 per 100 ml. The highest was taken on 4 September 2026. A classification is calculated from percentiles across four seasons, so no single reading decides how this water is rated.
Recent sample results
The last 12 bacterial samples published by the Environment Agency (England), most recent on the right. Counts are per 100 ml of water.
Dashed line: 1000 E. coli per 100 ml, the Bathing Water Directive guide value for inland waters.
| Date | E. coli | Enterococci | Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24 Sept | 280 | 46 | — |
| 18 Sept | 480 | 130 | — |
| 14 Sept | 420 | 400 | — |
| 9 Sept | 640 | 470 | — |
| 4 Sept | 1900 | 860 | — |
| 26 Aug | 100 | 36 | — |
A bathing water's official classification is calculated from percentiles across four bathing seasons, not from any single sample — so one high reading doesn't mean a spot is unsafe, and one low reading doesn't mean it's clean today.
Quality over the last 2 years
- Poor2024
- Poor2025
This water has been rated Poor in each of the last 2 years.
Facilities & access
- Parking
- YesLammas Land car park about 150 m away (OpenStreetMap)
- Toilets
- YesPublic toilets about 150 m away (OpenStreetMap)
Storm overflows nearby
None of the storm overflows within 5 km with an up-to-date reading are discharging. Heavy rain makes combined sewers overflow into rivers and the sea by design, so this changes with the weather.
- Not dischargingabout 2.4 km awayDischarges into River CamReported by Anglian Water Services
- Not dischargingabout 4.8 km awayDischarges into River Rhee NTLast discharge ended Reported by Anglian Water Services
These are the water company’s own reports of when an overflow is operating, not a measurement of the water at this spot. A discharge into a river some distance away may never reach here; a quiet list does not mean the water is clean. The swim status above comes from the bathing-water monitoring body and does not use this data.
Official water quality
Classified Poor in 2025.
Official bathing-water profileCommon questions
- Can you swim at Sheep's Green, River Cam right now?
- Sheep's Green, River Cam is currently marked "Caution". This spot's annual water-quality classification is Poor. Bathing isn't recommended. This reflects the latest data published by the Environment Agency (England). Conditions change quickly — always assess the water yourself before entering.
- What is the water quality like at Sheep's Green, River Cam?
- the Environment Agency (England) classified Sheep's Green, River Cam as Poor in 2025. Classifications are a rolling assessment of bacterial samples taken over four bathing seasons, measured against E. coli and intestinal enterococci limits set by the EU Bathing Water Directive.
- Is there a swimming ban or warning at Sheep's Green, River Cam?
- There are no active bathing restrictions published by the Environment Agency (England) for Sheep's Green, River Cam. That is not a guarantee of safety — assess conditions yourself.
- What facilities are there at Sheep's Green, River Cam?
- Sheep's Green, River Cam has toilets, parking. Facility information comes from OpenStreetMap contributors.
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