Scotland's bathing water season begins

EXT01 – B01

Hoping for a long, hot summer? People considering a day out or holiday in Scotland will be pleased to know that the bathing waters season begins today, Tuesday, 1 June 2010. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has started collecting samples for its annual bathing waters monitoring programme at 82 Scottish waters, including two new sites for the 2010 season.

Day trippers, tourists and holidaymakers staying nearer home this year will want to have all the necessary information to ensure their seaside visit is a good one. As in previous years, results from SEPA's monitoring of bathing water quality will be available online within a few days of sampling.

SEPA's bathing water signage system will operate daily, allowing beach visitors to know the predicted water quality conditions on electronic message boards at eleven locations and also by phone, online and text by 10.00 hours on the day of their visit.

The two new sites designated by the Scottish Government this year are Black Sands in Aberdour and Billowness in Anstruther after meeting the appropriate assessment criteria and beach usage information. 

Calum McPhail, SEPA's Environment Quality manager for bathing waters, said: "As has been the case in previous years, Scotland's weather over the forthcoming bathing season will be a significant factor affecting the quality of bathing waters.

"To ensure that anyone who visits a bathing water has all the information they need for a safe visit, SEPA is encouraging them to visit our website www.sepa.org.uk/water/bathing_waters.aspx. At sites with electronic signage, the water quality forecast is displayed on our electronic message board or people can call our Beachline number 08452 30 30 98 for a real time water quality forecast. There is even a Beachline text number 07797 806503. Having this information lets visitors decide whether to participate in water activities or just enjoy the surroundings of the beach.

"Last year 98% of samples met the mandatory or stricter guideline European bathing water standards. SEPA is continuing to work with other organisations, including Scottish Water, local authorities, the farming community and Scottish Government to continue to improve the quality of the bathing waters by planning to further reduce and limit pollution through the river basin planning process."

Environment Minister Roseanna Cunningham said:

"Ensuring good water quality and clean beaches will allow Scottish families and summer visitors to enjoy a safe and enjoyable seaside experience. 

"Bathing water and beach management is important, not only to Scottish communities, but also to the economy.

"Our beaches are a wonderful natural resource and I want to ensure that we can maximise their benefit for Scotland. I hope that everyone has the opportunity, this summer, to make the most of our beaches, with 56 of them achieving other quality awards, including some with the prestigious Blue Flag." 

Ends

Notes to editor

  • The EU Bathing Water Directive (76/160/EEC) was created to protect and enhance the quality of bathing waters throughout Europe.
  • SEPA undertakes the official monitoring and reporting of bathing water quality in Scotland during the bathing season (defined as 1 June to 15 September) and makes results available to the public, local authorities and others on the SEPA website as soon as they are available.
  • The SEPA Beachline phone number is 08452 30 30 98, and the Beachline text number is 07797 806503
  • During the 2010 bathing waters season, SEPA will also monitor some other coastal, estuarine and inland sites for bacterial quality. These waters are not identified bathing waters and are not subject to EU compliance. However, SEPA undertakes monitoring at these sites for internal operational purposes.
  • SEPA is working with the Scottish Government during the implementation of their strategy 'Better bathing waters - meeting the challenge of the revised Bathing Waters Directive on Scotland' aimed at developing and meeting requirements of the revised Bathing Waters Directive as enacted by the Bathing Waters (Scotland) Regulations 2008.
  • Further information about the criteria used in monitoring Bathing Water Standards is available at www.sepa.org.uk/water/bathing_waters.aspx
  • Information on how to apply to have a location considered for bathing water designation by Scottish Government can be accessed at www.sepa.org.uk/water/bathing_waters/bathing_waters_designation.aspx