EC Bathing Waters and Bathing Water quality

management

Calum McPhail

Environmental Quality

Unit manager

Caroline Dilks

Senior Scientist

Recent BWs Directive compliance - Scotland

2006 - all 61 sites passed (first time since monitoring began in mid 1980’s)

2010 – 4 fails (82 sites)

and 14 single sample (yellow flags)

1.4% of all samplesi.e. 22 out of 1560

   

COUNCIL OFTHE EUROPEAN UNION

Brussels

   

   

Regulations (Scotland) made March 2008

BW profiles for March 2011

Monitoring starts 2012

First Compliance report 2015

Revised 2006 Directive

Rolling 4 years’ data to produce the annual

Water quality classification

4 status levels (excellent, good, sufficient, poor)

Statistical probability calculated as percentiles (%iles) (the current directive fixed good/poor limits and annual compliance by % of 20 single samples)

Monitoring calendar – within 4 days of date

80 samples for the classification (most sites)

Revised 2006 Directive

Focus is on two parameters for analysis - Intestinal enterococci and Escherichia coli instead of nineteen in the current Directive.

Other parameters to be taken into account –

cyanobacteria, phytoplankton and macro-algae if there is a known potential for accumulation and risks to health,

and other nuisance pollutants (litter, tarry residues etc).

Based on better science

Aligned to WHO recommendations referenced to real epidemiology and exposure studies

Improve public participation and information- modern technologies e.g. Internet and maps

Profiles and signage

Beach management – coordinated roles for beach operators, relevant authorities

Beach Signage – Operators (SEPA and local authority)

Predict and Protect – allows for short term pollution

Revised 2006 Directive

Short term pollution events and abnormal situations…

“Adequate management measures including….. surveillance early warning systems and monitoring

….with a view to preventing bathers’ exposure by means of a warning, or where necessary a bathing prohibition”

Need systems to disseminate required information to the Public

EU bathing water profiles

Profiles – March 2011

SEPA involvement in EU guidance,

UK working,

EU twinning project with Estonia and Austria

The bathing water profile

Purpose to provide relevant information to the public

about bathing waters and their catchments, including: potential sources of pollution; the conditions under which these are likely

to be an issue; the management measures taken.

Focus the requirements listed in Schedule 1 of the

Scottish Regulations.

Statutory requirements

SEPA must establish, and thereafter keep under review bathing water profiles by 24 March 2011;

Before establishing (and prior to review) SEPA must consult: the relevant local authority; the relevant health board; Scottish Water; SNH; bodies representing agricultural interests.

Consultation

Stage 1: Consultation on the general template February – March 2010; responses received from SNH, Scottish

Water, Keep Scotland Beautiful.

Stage 2: Consultation on the individual profiles November – December 2010; will include local authorities; profiles available on SEPA’s website.

Profile content

Description of the bathing water; Water quality assessment and bathing

advice; Assessment of risks to water quality; Description of the catchment (land draining

to bathing water); Measures to improve bathing water quality;

diffuse pollution from agricultural sources; sewage and other discharges; diffuse urban sources;

Contact details and sources of information.

Maps

Map of the Ayr (South Beach) bathing waterMap of the catchment draining into Ayr

(South Beach) bathing water

Reviews / updates

Current classification Poor Sufficient Good

Minimum review frequency

1 – 2 years

3 years 4 years

Cycles based on current classification

Summary of 2010 classification (Directive 2006/7/EC) Excellent : 21 Good : 21 Sufficient : 13 Poor : 27

Information sheet

Current classification; General description (based

on profile); Potential for short-term

pollution; Advice against bathing; Reporting pollution; Additional sources of

information; Map of the designation.

Conclusion and summary

Moving towards 2015

Moving towards 2015 Half still reach Good or Excellent

Working for further improvements:- diffuse agricultural pollution

- diffuse urban pollution- assets e.g. treatment plant, sewerage and CSOs

Better public information Beach management Predict and protect systems – allow (expect) short

pollution Beach signage – SEPA signs, LA signs Abnormal situations 1 in 4 year Sampling calendar – within 4 days