The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has announced this summer's bathing water quality results for Scotland. Disappointingly, there has been a slight increase in the number of identified waters failing the minimum mandatory European standards. However, the number of Scottish sites that have passed the most stringent bathing water quality standards has equalled the previous best.

Each summer, SEPA monitors 60 identified bathing waters for compliance with the EC Bathing Water Directive. This summer, 51 of these sites achieved mandatory passes, based on levels of bacteria which are indicators of pollution by faecal material, compared with 53 for the summer of 1999. This summer also saw 40% of identified waters achieve the more stringent guideline values, matching last year's then record total.

"The bathing waters that have failed this year are ones that have tended to fail in the past", said SEPA's Head of Water Policy, Colin Bayes "As with before, the main reason for poor water quality at these sites is sewage effluent. The planned major investment by the Water Authorities must address the historic legacy of inadequate sewage treatment facilities and sewerage infrastructure in Scotland. SEPA is currently engaged in close dialogue with the Water Authorities to seek to ensure that their capital expenditure will be targeted to deliver maximum environmental benefits."

"Clearly, the present situation is not acceptable", continued Mr Bayes. "There is, however, an ever-increasing amount of data that we can use to drive forward bathing water quality improvements. Earlier this year, for example, research work in Ayrshire has helped to identify certain improvements in farming practices that will be necessary to cut down on the risk of livestock wastes polluting bathing waters. A combination of extensive sewerage system upgrades and increased adoption of best practice by the agricultural community will be required if Scotland's identified bathing waters are to achieve full compliance with European bathing water standards."


The full set of bathing water results for 2000 can be found on the SEPA web-site: http://www.sepa.org.uk.

NOTES FOR EDITORS

The Directive: The EC Bathing Water Directive (76/160/EEC) is designed to protect and enhance the quality of bathing waters throughout Europe. Scotland has 60 identified bathing waters, which are each tested annually 20 times between June and mid-September. The samples taken are tested for the presence of a number of parameters and it is the responsibility of SEPA to carry out the sampling and associated analytical work.

Mandatory standard: the water quality standard set by the EU, which Member States must observe. If achieved, a mandatory pass indicates good water quality. The mandatory standard is based on levels of faecal coliforms and total coliforms, which indicate the presence of pollution from human sewage or livestock excreta. For a bathing water to pass the mandatory requirements of the Directive, only one failure is allowed in these standards per year.

Guideline standard: EU water quality standard which is stricter than the mandatory standard and, if achieved, indicates excellent water quality.

Research: Previous research work, led by Professor Kay from Leeds University's Centre for Research into Environment and Health, examined the causes of poor bathing water quality in the River Irvine and Water-of-Girvan catchments in Ayrshire. The main finding of the report (published June 1999), was that discharges of sewage direct to the marine environment were the principal cause of bathing water failures. However, the report went onto to state that, even after improvements to sewage treatment, diffuse agricultural pollution could pose a residual threat to the quality of these waters. SERAD therefore commissioned research to investigate the possible impact of agricultural practices and catchment characteristics on bathing water quality in these catchments. SEPA and the National Farmers Union Scotland (NFUS) were involved in the Steering Group for this project, for which the Scottish Agricultural College (SAC) were the appointed research contractors.

The research has identified that a number of potential risks to bathing water quality could be eliminated through improved slurry/dirty water management on farms and increased adherence to the recommendations contained in the PEPFAA Code in respect of the application of livestock wastes to land.

Full report: SEPA is currently collating all the data from its monitoring of bathing waters and other recreational waters and is preparing a report for publication. The report will be available from SEPA Public Relationstowards the end of 2000, and will also be available on the SEPA web-site.

Full Set of Results

Bathing Water Results 2000

Guideline Passes (24)	Mandatory Passes (27)	Fails (9)
Dornoch Beach (Caravan Park)	Southerness	Sandyhills
Nairn (Central Beach)	Brighouse Bay	Rockcliffe
Nairn (East Beach)	Carrick Bay	Ayr (South Beach)
Cullen	Girvan	Troon (South Beach)
Inverboyndie	Turnberry	Saltcoats/Ardrossan (South Beach)
Fraserburgh (Philorth)	Prestwick	Ettrick Bay
Peterhead (Lido)	Irvine - Gailes (New Town)	Cruden Bay
Montrose	Millport, Cumbrae	Portobello West (Kings Rd)
Carnoustie	Luss Bay	Eyemouth
St. Andrews (West Sands)	Machrihanish Bay
Crail (Roome Bay)	Ganavan Bay
Elie (Woodhaven and Ruby Bay)	Morar Beach
Shell Bay	Dunnet Bay (Dunnet)
Kinghorn (Pettycur)	Loch Ness (Dores)
Burntisland	Rosehearty
Aberdour (Silversands)	Aberdeen
Gullane	Stonehaven
Yellowcraigs	Fraserburgh
North Berwick (Milsey Bay)	Balmedie
Dunbar (Belhaven)	Arbroath (West Links)
Dunbar (East)	St. Andrews (East Sands)
Whitesands	Kingsbarns
Thortonloch	Portobello Central (James St)
Pease Bay	Seton Sands/Longniddry
	North Berwick Bay
	St. Abbs
	Coldingham