Frensham Great Pond
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
Frensham Great Pond is in Waverley, about 20 km from Petersfield. Frensham Great Pond has been rated Excellent in each of the 4 bathing seasons classified by the Environment Agency (England), 2022 through 2025. Across the 12 most recent samples published by the Environment Agency (England), E. coli counts ranged from 10 to 310 per 100 ml. The highest was taken on 17 August 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: 500 E. coli per 100 ml, the Bathing Water Directive guide value for coastal / transitional waters.
| Date | E. coli | Enterococci | Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 Sept | 230 | 270 | — |
| 28 Aug | 120 | 110 | — |
| 17 Aug | 310 | 10 | — |
| 4 Aug | 45 | 10 | — |
| 19 Jul | 55 | 10 | — |
| 8 Jul | 10 | 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.
Quality over the last 4 years
- Excellent2022
- Excellent2023
- Excellent2024
- Excellent2025
This water has been rated Excellent in each of the last 4 years.
Facilities & access
- Parking
- YesFrensham Great Pond Car Park about 200 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 2.5 km awayDischarges into Whitmoor Vale StreamLast discharge ended Reported by Thames Water
- Not dischargingabout 4.1 km awayDischarges into River WeyLast 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
Classified Excellent in 2025.
Official bathing-water profileCommon questions
- Can you swim at Frensham Great Pond right now?
- Frensham Great Pond 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.
- What is the water quality like at Frensham Great Pond?
- the Environment Agency (England) classified Frensham Great Pond as Excellent 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 Frensham Great Pond?
- 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 2026-06-19.
- What facilities are there at Frensham Great Pond?
- Frensham Great Pond has toilets, parking. Facility information comes from OpenStreetMap contributors.
This spot is also in
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Nearby swimming spots
See all swimming spots near Petersfield — about 20 km away.