EU bathing water compliance is currently based on a sub-set of the parameters specified in the EU Bathing Water Directive 76/160/EEC. The five microbiological and physicochemical parameters considered for EU compliance purposes are:
The results of samples analysed are assessed for compliance with two sets of EU standards specified in the Directive: minimum quality standards (EU mandatory values) and more stringent quality targets (EU guide values). Over the bathing season, water quality at each bathing area must comply with the minimum EU mandatory values. In addition, all bathing areas should endeavour to achieve the stricter EU guide values. Compliance of water quality for the Blue Flag Awards requires that the bathing areas must also comply with the EU guide value for an additional microbiological parameter, faecal streptococci.
A new Directive on bathing water (Directive 2006/7/EC) came into force on 24 March 2006 and will repeal the existing 1976 Directive with effect from 31 December 2014. The new Directive establishes stricter microbiological standards for two new parameters, Intestinal enterococci and Escherichia coli, which will be used to classify bathing waters as 'poor', 'sufficient', 'good' and 'excellent'.
The 'excellent' classification is approximately twice as stringent as the current EU guide values while the 'good' classification is similar to the current EU guide values. The 'sufficient' classification is tigher than the current EU mandatory values whereas the 'poor' classification is noncompliant bathing water. Bathing areas are not classified as 'excellent' as the 1976 Directive does not having bathing water standards that equate to an excellent classification.
For the 2010 bathing season, the current EU mandatory and guide values (1976 Directive) for the microbiological parameters total and faecal coliforms were used to classify the bathing areas as follows:
From the 2011 bathing season onwards, the two robust microbiological parameters, Intestinal enterococci and Escherichia coli, will be monitored and used to classify bathing waters.
Check out the EPA bathing water quality information website, Splash.
Read the Bathing Water Quality Report for 2010.
Download the Bathing Water Map for 2010. It shows the location of each designated bathing area and the compliance status of each site.
