Ham and Kingston, River Thames
Do not swim
The Environment Agency advises against bathing here — an open pollution incident (harmful algae) is affecting this water.
Checked against the Environment Agency (England) · data last changed 2 months ago.
Active notices
Pollution incident: harmful algae
The Environment Agency advises against bathing here — an open pollution incident (harmful algae) is affecting this water.
This spot’s record
Ham and Kingston, River Thames is in Kingston upon Thames, about 7 km from Esher. Across the 12 most recent samples published by the Environment Agency (England), E. coli counts ranged from 36 to 6,600 per 100 ml. The highest was taken on 9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Sept | 770 | 120 | — |
| 9 Sept | 6600 | 2500 | — |
| 3 Sept | 170 | 55 | — |
| 27 Aug | 770 | 560 | — |
| 21 Aug | 350 | 36 | — |
| 15 Aug | 36 | 10 | — |
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.
Facilities & access
- Parking
- YesCar park about 100 m away (OpenStreetMap)
- Toilets
- YesPublic toilets about 100 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 1.6 km awayDischarges into River ThamesLast discharge ended Reported by Thames Water
- Not dischargingabout 2.2 km awayDischarges into River HogsmillLast discharge ended Reported by Thames Water
- Not dischargingabout 2.3 km awayDischarges into River ThamesReported by Thames Water
- Not dischargingabout 3.1 km awayDischarges into River HogsmillLast discharge ended Reported by Thames Water
- Not dischargingabout 3.1 km awayDischarges into River ThamesLast discharge ended Reported by Thames Water
- Not dischargingabout 3.7 km awayDischarges into Unnamed WatercourseLast discharge ended Reported by Thames Water
- Not dischargingabout 4.1 km awayDischarges into Beverley BrookLast discharge ended Reported by Thames Water
- Not dischargingabout 4.4 km awayDischarges into River ThamesLast discharge ended Reported by Thames Water
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
This spot has no official annual classification.
Official bathing-water profileCommon questions
- Can you swim at Ham and Kingston, River Thames right now?
- Ham and Kingston, River Thames is currently marked "Do not swim". The Environment Agency advises against bathing here — an open pollution incident (harmful algae) is affecting this water. This reflects the latest data published by the Environment Agency (England). Conditions change quickly — always assess the water yourself before entering.
- Is there a swimming ban or warning at Ham and Kingston, River Thames?
- Yes. The Environment Agency advises against bathing here — an open pollution incident (harmful algae) is affecting this water. This notice was published by the Environment Agency (England) and began on 2026-08-17.
- What facilities are there at Ham and Kingston, River Thames?
- Ham and Kingston, River Thames has toilets, parking. Facility information comes from OpenStreetMap contributors.
Get told when this changes
We’ll email you when the swim status at Ham and Kingston, River Thames moves — a pollution alert opening, or one lifting. Not a newsletter: only this spot, only when it changes, at most once every 12 hours.
Your address is used for these alerts and nothing else, is never shared, and is deleted the moment you unsubscribe — a link is in every email.
Nearby swimming spots
See all swimming spots near Esher — about 7 km away.