Contents

• Foreword by SEPA's Chief Executive
• Introduction
• Background
• How results are determined
• 1997 results
• Conclusion
• Appendices
  - Glossary of terms and abbreviations
  - Relevant EC Directives and UK legislation
  - Sources of additional information on bathing water quality
  

Foreword by SEPA's Chief Executive

The publication of SEPA’s 1997 Scottish Bathing Waters Report builds on the format which was established in last year’s report. The 1996 report provided a comprehensive picture of bathing water quality in Scotland, which included information on Scotland’s 23 identified bathing waters along with water quality information from a broad range of other sites. We received many favourable comments on the report, as well as suggestions for future editions. Many of these suggestions, including requests for more coverage of compliance with guideline values, have been incorporated into this report and we hope that readers find it a valuable source of information on the quality of Scotland’s identified bathing waters and other waters.

The 1997 bathing water quality results were, for the most part, disappointing. During the 1997 bathing season, only 18 of Scotland’s 23 identified bathing waters met the Directive’s mandatory standards for faecal and total coliforms (the key parameters used to measure bathing water quality), while five met the Directive’s much tougher microbiological guideline values. The compliance of the identified bathing waters with the Directive’s mandatory standards during 1997 compared unfavourably with that of 1996 when 21 identified bathing waters passed. However, the number of guideline passes in 1997 was the same as in 1996. The five identified bathing waters which failed to achieve compliance with the Directive’s mandatory standards in 1997 are all located on the west coast of Scotland.

SEPA and the West of Scotland Water Authority (WOSWA) have agreed to jointly fund a detailed study of the situation on the west coast to determine the cause of this season’s failures. SEPA’s target, as stated in the current Corporate Plan, is that all currently identified bathing waters should make continual progress towards compliance with the Directive’s mandatory standards for total and faecal coliforms by the 1998 bathing season. The poor results on the west coast place this in doubt, hence the detailed study which SEPA has initiated.

SEPA remains committed to ensuring that Scotland’s bathing waters offer the highest possible standards in water quality.

Alasdair C. Paton
Chief Executive, Scottish Environment Protection Agency
November 1997

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Introduction

SEPA’s role in the provision of high quality bathing water

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) came into being on 1 April 1996. SEPA is charged with preventing the pollution of land, air and water, and the protecting of Scotland’s environment. The Agency assumed responsibility from Scotland’s seven former river purification boards for monitoring bathing water quality and reporting the results. This report contains the results of SEPA’s 1997 monitoring programme.

SEPA has established a regional structure for Scotland which comprises three regions: East Region, North Region and West Region. SEPA’s Head Office is located in Stirling and there is a network of three regional headquarters and 18 local offices throughout Scotland.

SEPA’s commitment to improving bathing water quality

SEPA acknowledges the importance that high quality bathing waters have for a wide variety of interests including water sports. As such, SEPA is committed to improving the quality of Scotland’s bathing waters in conjunction with Scotland’s three Water Authorities (responsible for both water and sewerage services) and other key bodies. SEPA’s target, as stated in the 1997/98 Corporate Plan, remains that all currently identified bathing waters should make continual progress towards compliance with the Directive’s mandatory standards for total and faecal coliforms by the 1998 bathing season. In order to meet this goal, SEPA has initiated a detailed study of the causes of this season’s failures, in conjunction with the West of Scotland Water Authority (WOSWA) and the councils of North and South Ayrshire. The study is scheduled to begin in December 1997 and last for approximately six months.

SEPA regards the quality of other waters where bathing and recreational water sports take place to be of equal importance to that at the 23 currently identified bathing waters. The Agency’s intention is that all new sewage treatment and disposal schemes should be designed to achieve compliance with the Directive.

Purpose of this report

This report contains the 1997 results from SEPA’s routine monitoring of water quality. Four separate sets of results are included in this report:

• results from Scotland’s 23 identified bathing waters.
• results from non-identified marine waters sampled 20 times during the bathing season.
• results from non-identified marine waters sampled fewer than 20 times during the bathing season.
• results from other waters monitored by SEPA.

Results from the above routine monitoring programmes can be found in this report. Results from non-routine monitoring of water quality (such as special investigations) can be obtained from SEPA’s Regional Headquarters.

As required by the Directive, the water quality results for the 23 identified bathing waters have been reported to the Commission of the European Communities who will publish the results as part of their annual report on the overall quality of bathing waters in the community. SEPA’s report is intended to provide the public with detailed information on the quality of the bathing waters which the Agency monitors on a routine basis.

Background and legislation

EC Bathing Water Directive (76/160/EEC)

Main provisions

The Directive requires each Member State to take all necessary measures to bring their identified bathing waters up to the quality standards contained in the Directive. The quality requirements are set out in the form of values for microbiological, physical and chemical parameters. The Directive also describes the frequency of sampling, methods of analysis and inspection of bathing areas and the interpretation of results. Provision is made for the waiving of some quality values, and the variation of sampling frequency, in certain prescribed circumstances.

The Directive defines a bathing water as fresh or sea water where either bathing is explicitly authorised or bathing is not prohibited and is traditionally practiced by a large number of bathers.

Competent authorities

The Secretary of State for Scotland is responsible for identifying bathing waters in Scotland under the terms of the Directive, while the monitoring of bathing water quality in Scotland is the responsibility of SEPA. SEPA is also responsible for the consenting of discharges which have the potential to adversely impact on water quality.

Any measures required to improve water quality are, in the majority of instances, the responsibility of dischargers of industrial effluent or the Water Authorities. In many cases of unsatisfactory water quality, the cause is the discharge of sewage receiving insufficient treatment and dispersion. Appropriate treatment of the sewage, followed by discharge through a properly designed and sited sea outfall pipe, will usually provide a remedy. Combined sewer overflows, which operate mainly during periods of high rainfall, can also discharge untreated sewage to watercourses and coastal waters.

How Scotland’s bathing waters are identified

At the outset, the UK Government set criteria for the identification of waters coming within the scope of the Directive based on the number of people using the water for bathing. Surveys conducted in 1979 identified 27 UK waters, all of which were in England (although several Scottish waters had been monitored for compliance with the Directive’s standards by Scotland’s former river purification boards for a number of years). Early in 1987, the Government decided to identify more bathing waters in terms of the Directive, with effect from the 1987 bathing season. In an answer to a Parliamentary Question on 3 February 1987, the Secretary of State for Scotland announced that 23 Scottish waters had been identified (see Map 2 for the location of the 23 identified bathing waters). These 23 identified bathing waters are listed in Table 2, which also shows the appropriate SEPA region and local authority.

There have been calls for additional bathing waters to be identified in Scotland. Lord Sewel, the Scottish Office Minister for the environment, has agreed to conduct a review of Scotland’s identified bathing waters. A policy paper, intended for public consultation, is being prepared. SEPA’s involvement in the review is likely to be twofold. Firstly, SEPA would be responsible for the monitoring of bathing water quality and for supplying water quality data from candidate sites. Secondly, SEPA would be involved in discussions with Scotland’s three Water Authorities regarding any necessary upgrading of sewerage facilities to enable new identified bathing waters to achieve the Directive’s standards. Ultimately, SEPA can enforce such improvements through the consenting process. In doing so, SEPA would also need to have regard to the effects that any changes to the Water Authorities’ investment programmes, necessitated by the need for compliance with the Directive, would have on their existing capital investment programmes.

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How results are determined

Interpretation of results and requirements for monitoring programmes

The Annex to the EC Bathing Water Directive contains information on the requirements for monitoring programmes, lists the 19 parameters and values which apply to bathing waters and states how results should be interpreted. The information in the Directive has been adopted in Scotland under the Bathing Waters (Classification) (Scotland) Regulations 1991.

The Directive contains information on two main types of values for water quality standards: mandatory standards which Member States must observe, and stricter guideline values which Member States should endeavour to observe. It is worth noting that all waters which comply with the stricter guideline values also achieved a pass of the mandatory standards.

• Mandatory standards

Mandatory standards apply to 10 parameters: total coliforms, faecal coliforms, salmonella, enteroviruses, pH, colour, mineral oils, surface-active substances reacting with methylene blue (essentially detergents), phenols and transparency.

The UK Government bases compliance with the Directive’s mandatory standards on the counts of total coliforms and faecal coliforms. Both parameters must comply with the Directive’s mandatory standards for the site to achieve a pass at this level.

• Guideline values

In addition to the mandatory standards set by the Directive, there are guideline values for some of the parameters including the two coliform groups and faecal streptococci. These guideline values are stricter than the mandatory standards and, if achieved, indicate excellent bathing water quality.

The UK Government bases compliance with the Directive’s guideline values on the counts of total coliforms, faecal coliforms and faecal streptococci. All three parameters must comply with the Directive’s guideline values for the site to achieve a pass at this level.

Deviations from these values are allowed in the case of floods, other natural disasters and abnormal weather conditions under Article 5.2 of the EC Bathing Water Directive. The guidance which SEPA has received from The Scottish Office is that exceptional weather conditions can be defined as a storm with a return frequency of one in five years or more.

Sampling frequency

The minimum frequency of sampling is also set out in the Annex to the Directive. Checks must be made for total and faecal coliforms, transparency, colour, mineral oil, surface-active substances reacting with methylene blue and phenols at least once a fortnight during the bathing season. For the remaining parameters with mandatory standards (salmonella, enteroviruses and pH), and for other parameters where inspection is prescribed, concentrations should be checked whenever inspections show that the substance may be present or where the quality of the bathing water has deteriorated.

The bathing season in Scotland is taken to be from 1 June to mid-September. Allowing for a pre-season sample, the former river purification boards (the bodies responsible for sampling prior to SEPA) were advised in 1988 to take at least 20 samples throughout that and subsequent seasons, compared with 12 for the 1987 season. This means that for each parameter there is normally available, for each season, a series of at least 20 samples showing the value of total and faecal coliforms and transparency, together with the results of a similar number of inspections for colour, oil, detergent foam and phenols.

This report includes results of SEPA’s microbiological monitoring as the UK Government bases a bathing water’s pass/fail status on these parameters alone. Due to space limitations within this publication, it is not possible to print all of the results of SEPA’s analysis from the 1997 bathing season. However, sampling results from the other parameters monitored by SEPA are available on request.

Interpretation of microbiological values

The microbiological parameters listed in the Directive are all natural inhabitants of the gut of humans and other warm-blooded animals, and are indicators of sewage pollution. Their presence, in excess of the values in the Directive, identifies waters which have almost certainly received volumes of sewage that have not been given the treatment or the dilution normally considered necessary. The bacteria and viruses present in sewage may cause illness, especially as a result of ingestion or infection through wounds or cuts. Article 5 of the Directive specifies how the results of faecal coliform, total coliform and faecal streptococci monitoring are to be interpreted. These are summarised in Table 1 below. Details on interpreting the results obtained from 20 samples are provided, as this is the minimum number of samples which is required to be taken from each identified bathing water in Scotland during the bathing season.

Table 1: Interpretation of microbiological values for 20 samples

Interpretation of other values

Apart from the two coliform parameters, other exceedences of the Directive’s mandatory standards in Scottish waters have mostly been due to transparency. Failures of the transparency parameter are usually due to physical conditions rather than pollution. For example, tidal action at Sandyhills, Dumfries and Galloway, can lead to high levels of suspended sediment, while at Nairn (East Beach), a waiver has been granted for both the transparency and colour parameters. Failure of these parameters occurs when the River Nairn is in spate and discharges peaty-coloured water into the sea near the sampling point. Article 8 (a) of the Directive provides for a waiver in such situations.

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1997 Bathing water quality results

Four categories of 1997 water quality results will be covered in this report:

• results from Scotland’s 23 identified bathing waters.
• results from non-identified marine waters sampled at least 20 times during the bathing season.
• results from non-identified marine waters sampled fewer than 20 times during the bathing season.
• results from other waters monitored by SEPA.

Results from Scotland’s 23 identified bathing waters

Summary of 1997 results from Scotland’s 23 identified bathing waters

Mandatory standards

During the 1997 bathing season, 18 (78%) of Scotland’s 23 identified bathing waters achieved mandatory passes of the Directive’s coliform standards while five bathing waters failed. The results compare unfavourably with those achieved during the 1996 bathing season when 21 (91%) bathing waters achieved passes of the Directive’s mandatory standards. Information on compliance with the Directive’s mandatory standards for the 23 identified bathing waters from 1988 to 1997 can be found in Table 2, while more detailed information on the 1997microbiological results can be found in Table 3.

All five of the failures of the mandatory standards for the coliform parameters occurred on the west coast. SEPA and WOSWA have agreed to jointly fund a detailed research study into the causes of this season’s failures. The study is due to begin in December 1997.

It is worthwhile pointing out that during the 1997 bathing season, Turnberry achieved its first pass of the Directive’s mandatory standards since the current monitoring programme began in 1988. This positive result can be attributed to the chlorination schemes operated by the Turnberry Hotel and by WOSWA at the Kirkoswald sewage treatment works.

SEPA’s target remains that all currently identified bathing waters should make continual progress towards compliance with the Directive’s mandatory standards for total and faecal coliforms by the 1998 bathing season. The poor results on the west coast place this in doubt, hence the detailed study which SEPA is undertaking with WOSWA.

Guideline values

During the 1997 bathing season, 5 (22%) of Scotland’s 23 identified bathing waters achieved guideline passes of the Directive’s microbiological values. This was the same number which passed during 1996. Information on compliance with the Directive’s guideline values for the 23 identified bathing waters from 1988 to 1997 can be found in Table 2 while more detailed information on the 1997 microbiological results can be found in Table 3.

SEPA is endeavouring to observe the guideline values as required by the EC Bathing Water Directive. SEPA will continue to work with the Water Authorities and others to ensure that progress is made towards complying with guideline values. Whenever new sewerage systems are installed which could affect water quality at an identified bathing water, the new schemes will be required to be designed to achieve compliance with the Directive.

Trends in compliance: 1988-1997

There is a certain amount of fluctuation in compliance over the years, partly as a result of random sampling effects and also because certain waters are at risk from contamination exacerbated by abnormal events such as severe storms. Weather conditions can have a significant impact on bathing water quality, so it is useful to look at compliance over a three year period to assess overall trends. Figure 1 and Figure 2 show the trends in compliance with the mandatory standards and guideline microbiological values for all 23 identified waters over three year periods.

Mandatory standards

Figure 1 shows that, in spite of the higher number of failures during 1997, the number of identified bathing waters achieving regular compliance with the Directive’s mandatory standards for total and faecal coliforms each year, within a three year period, has increased steadily. During the three year period from 1995 to 1997, 17 bathing waters achieved compliance with the Directive’s mandatory standards each year. This was the highest number of bathing waters achieving three passes in a three year period since the current monitoring programme began in 1988. This positive result is an indication that sewerage improvement schemes, designed to bring about compliance, have been successful in improving bathing water quality and that the underlying trend is one of improvement.

Guideline values

Figure 2 shows that the number of identified bathing waters achieving regular compliance with the Directive’s guideline values for the microbiological parameters has increased steadily since monitoring began. Three bathing waters achieved compliance with the Directive’s guideline values for the microbiological parameters each year during the three year period from 1995 to 1997. Although this was the highest number of bathing waters to achieve three guideline passes during any three year period since the current monitoring programme began, the result is unsatisfactory. SEPA acknowledges its responsibility under the Directive to endeavour to observe the Directive’s guideline values and is working with the Water Authorities to do so.

Updated information from Scotland’s 23 identified bathing waters

This section contains more information and details of improvement plans for each of Scotland’s 23 identified bathing waters.

Nairn (East Beach)

The Nairn (East Beach) bathing water has complied with the Directive’s mandatory standards for total and faecal coliforms in 1997, as it has since 1991.

Work will commence on a new waste water treatment plant during autumn 1998 with completion due in late 1999; the statutory deadline being 1 January 2001. However, past failures have often been associated with the quality of the nearby River Nairn which is believed to have contributed significantly to the problem.

Cullen

The identified bathing water at Cullen has met the Directive’s mandatory standards for total and faecal coliforms each year since 1988. The failure of the sample taken on 2 July 1997 was waived under Article 5.2 of the Directive due to severe flooding in the area.

There are no plans by the North of Scotland Water Authority (NOSWA) to carry out capital works in respect of the sewage discharges from Cullen for the purposes of bathing water compliance. However, NOSWA must provide appropriate treatment by 2005 to comply with the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, in this case by screening of the effluent.

Fraserburgh

The identified bathing water at Fraserburgh has met the Directive’s mandatory standards for total and faecal coliforms each year since 1989.

However, there are a number of untreated sewage discharges in the vicinity of the bathing water and elsewhere in Fraserburgh which could threaten future compliance. NOSWA proposes an improvement scheme comprising new link sewers, a sewage treatment works and a sea outfall pipe to the west of Fraserburgh. This level of treatment will comply with the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.

Aberdeen

The identified bathing water at Aberdeen has met the Directive’s mandatory standards for total and faecal coliforms each year since 1988. The failure of the sample taken on 2 July 1997 was waived under Article 5.2 of the Directive due to severe flooding in the area.

A long sea outfall pipe and headworks,providing preliminary treatment (screening and maceration) for the City of Aberdeen, were completed at Nigg in 1987. NOSWA plans to divert untreated sewage from discharges at Abercrombie Jetty to the Nigg headworks by spring 1998. Comprehensive studies have been carried out by NOSWA, in relation to the long sea outfall pipe, which indicate that primary treatment alone would be sufficient to meet the requirements of the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive. However, approval by the EC would be required before this derogation could be accepted.

Montrose

The identified bathing water at Montrose has achieved compliance with the Directive’s mandatory standards for total and faecal coliforms each year since 1988.

Dye-tracing experiments carried out by one of SEPA’s predecessor bodies on a trade effluent discharge in the Montrose area showed that, under certain conditions, effluent plumes from the lifeboat station, West End Park and other sewage outfall pipes could be swept into the vicinity of the bathing water thereby causing contamination. NOSWA plans to intercept sewage to these outfall pipes and provide treatment in order to comply with the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive by 2001. Comprehensive studies are being carried out to assess the environmental effects of providing primary treatment in conjunction with a long sea outfall pipe. This work should lead to further improvements in bathing water quality.

Arbroath (West Links)

The identified bathing water at Arbroath (West Links) failed to achieve compliance with the Directive’s mandatory standards for total and faecal coliforms from 1988 to 1991, but has passed since 1992.

To comply with the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, NOSWA is required to provide treatment to the sewage effluent presently discharged through the Inchcape Park outfall pipe. It is currently examining possible locations for the new sewage treatment works, which is required to be completed by 2001. NOSWA has undertaken comprehensive studies of this High Natural Dispersion Area (HNDA) in order to assess the possibility of providing only primary treatment in conjunction with a long sea outfall pipe to comply with the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive. SEPA requires that upgrading works achieve compliance with the Directive concerning the quality of bathing water (76/160/EEC).

Carnoustie

After a very marginal pass of the Directive’s mandatory standards in 1996, NOSWA carried out temporary disinfection of sewage effluent during the 1997 bathing season which allowed Carnoustie to comfortably meet the Directive’s mandatory standards.

Work is currently under way on the construction of an ovoid trunk sewer which will increase the storage capacity of the present sewerage system. This work should be completed prior to the 1998 bathing season. To comply with the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, NOSWA proposes to provide further treatment to the sewage effluent. Planning permission has been granted for the location of the proposed sewage treatment works.

NOSWA has carried out comprehensive studies to assess the possibility of providing only primary treatment. However, NOSWA is also considering whether to provide secondary treatment by 2001. SEPA requires that any upgrading works must comply with the EC Bathing Water Directive.

St Andrews (West Sands)

The identified bathing water at St Andrews (West Sands) has met the Directive’s mandatory standards for total and faecal coliforms each year since 1988, and the guideline values since 1992. This bathing water has also been given an EC Blue Flag award in 1996 and 1997.

In 1989, bacteriological surveys of the inshore waters carried out around St Andrews indicated poor dispersion of sewage from the town’s main outfall pipe, which is located about 1 km to the east of East Sands. As a result of the surveys, the St Andrews (West Sands) bathing water was considered vulnerable to microbiological contamination. Disinfection trials using chlorination on the town’s main outfall pipe were carried out in 1989, and although significant lowering of faecal coliform levels was noted at East Sands, there was no clear evidence of beneficial effects at the St Andrews (West Sands) bathing water. Nevertheless, chlorination has been continued during each bathing season since 1989.

A marine and catchment study carried out by one of SEPA’s predecessor bodies concluded that a new sewage treatment works and long sea outfall pipe should be constructed at Kinkell Ness, with a pumping station and rising main to transfer the flows from the existing outfall pipe and treatment works at East Sands. Storm tanks will also be required at the Bruce Embankment combined sewer overflow and within the Kinness Burn sewer catchment to reduce discharges from combined sewer overflows affecting the bathing water. It is anticipated that the necessary works will be completed by 2001.

Kinghorn (Pettycur)

The identified bathing water at Kinghorn (Pettycur) failed to meet the Directive’s mandatory standards for total and faecal coliforms in 1991 and 1992, but has passed since then.

The passes since 1993 are attributable to the commissioning of new treatment facilities and a long sea outfall pipe at Kinghorn in 1992. The work comprised of an interceptor sewer and the treatment of effluent by septic tanks prior to discharge through the new long sea outfall pipe. Kinghorn Harbour septic tank has been causing periodic problems with bathing water quality, especially at the Kinghorn Harbour non-identified marine water. The East of Scotland Water Authority (ESWA) has been looking at the problem and one possible course of action under consideration is diverting the discharge to Kirkcaldy sewage treatment works.

Sewage effluent from Burntisland could also affect the quality of bathing water at Kinghorn (Pettycur). ESWA has been undertaking sewerage improvements to collect the flows from four outfall pipes in the vicinity and divert these to a new sewage treatment works and long sea outfall pipe. This was due for completion in 1996. However, the Lammerlaws sewer, which serves the eastern part of the town, nearest to Kinghorn, still discharges untreated sewage as do the Harbour and Lochies Road outfall pipes. This will be addressed by ESWA during 1997/98, with work planned to be completed before the 1998 bathing season. When completed, this work should further improve bathing water quality at Kinghorn (Pettycur).

Aberdour (Silversands)

The identified bathing water at Aberdour (Silversands) failed to meet the Directive’s mandatory standards for total and faecal coliforms between 1990 and 1992, but has passed since. This identified bathing water was awarded an EC Blue Flag in 1996 and is expected to be awarded another in 1998 (Blue Flags are awarded to a beach the year after the qualifying bathing season). The passes since 1993 are attributable to the commissioning, in 1993, of the Aberdour long sea outfall.

Notwithstanding the bathing water’s recent compliances, the quality of bathing water at Aberdour (Silversands) may be at risk from sewage discharges at Burntisland (2.5 km at to the east), Dalgety Bay (about 3 km to the west) and from Aberdour West (Harbour). In addition to the improvement works underway at Burntisland (see details provided for Kinghorn, Pettycur) a new long sea outfall pipe was commissioned at Aberdour West (Harbour) sewage treatment works in 1995. ESWA has long-term plans to provide improved treatment and an extended outfall pipe at Dalgety Bay by 2001.

Gullane

The identified bathing water at Gullane has met the Directive’s mandatory standards for total and faecal coliforms each year since 1988.

The sewage from Gullane North is discharged to the inter-tidal area of the beach about 3 km north-east of the identified bathing water. Bacteriological and dye-testing conducted in 1993 indicated that, in most prevailing conditions, this discharge has little impact on the identified bathing water at Gullane.

ESWA is currently planning improvements to the Gullane North outfall pipe which will involve pumping the sewage to Aberlady/Gullane or North Berwick sewage treatment works for treatment. The existing pipe will remain for storm relief. This work is expected to be completed by the end of 1998.

ESWA is also planning to carry out improvements to the Aberlady/Gullane sewage treatment works, with work planned to start in the 1998/99 financial year. This work will include extending the outfall to the 1:50 dilution point with additional screening and storm storage. ESWA is also considering the provision of ultraviolet disinfection of the discharge. Aberlady/Gullane sewage treatment works is located in a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), and a National Nature Reserve which is an important site for both breeding and migratory birds. Work on these improvements is not possible during the breeding or migratory periods, thus restricting the amount of time available for construction work to be carried out. Nevertheless, ESWA expects to have the improvements completed by 2000/2001.

Yellowcraigs

The identified bathing water at Yellowcraigs has met the Directive’s mandatory standards for total and faecal coliforms each year since 1991, although these passes have often been marginal, as was the case in 1997. The failure of the sample taken on 1 July 1997 was waived under Article 5.2 of the Directive due to heavy rainfall.

Investigations carried out in 1992 showed that the Dirleton short sea outfall pipe, which lies at the western corner of Broad Sands Bay, can cause contamination at Yellowcraigs. In order to address this problem, ESWA proposes to intercept sewage from Dirleton and divert it to the new sewage treatment works and long sea outfall pipe to the east of Milsey Bay. This work was scheduled to be completed during 1996. However, there was a delay due mainly to problems in acquiring a site for the pumping station. Work began during the 1997 bathing season and it is expected that the work will be completed by spring 1998. It is anticipated that Yellowcraigs will achieve the Directive’s guideline values once this work is completed.

North Berwick (Milsey Bay)

The identified bathing water at North Berwick (Milsey Bay) has met the Directive’s mandatory standards for total and faecal coliforms each year since 1989, although these passes were often marginal up to and including 1994.

In 1995, a scheme to intercept the numerous short sea outfall pipes which discharged along the North Berwick coast was completed. The scheme included the provision of enhanced primary sewage treatment and discharge of the effluent via a new long sea outfall pipe at the eastern extremity of Milsey Bay. The treatment works incorporates a number of innovative features as it is constructed into the side of an old quarry, with the different stages of treatment stacked above each other. The completed works underlies an area of North Berwick Golf Club, with a new 18th tee located immediately above the underground sewage treatment works. Bathing water quality has greatly improved following the commissioning of the sewage treatment works and the long sea outfall pipe, although it is disappointing that the Directive’s guideline values have not yet been achieved. This will be investigated by SEPA prior to the 1998 bathing season.

Dunbar (Belhaven)

The identified bathing water at Dunbar (Belhaven) has met the Directive’s mandatory standards each year since 1988, and has passed the Directive’s guideline values since 1993.

Surveys carried out by one of SEPA’s predecessor bodies in 1988 indicated local pollution of nearshore waters from discharges of untreated sewage to the west and east of Dunbar. Since that time, the outfall pipes responsible for the discharges have been intercepted and diverted to a new long sea outfall pipe which was commissioned in 1993. Following these improvements, monitoring demonstrated improvements in the quality of bathing water, which now meets the Directive’s guideline microbiological values. Discharges from the West Barns combined sewer overflow are currently being investigated.

In order to comply with the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, ESWA now proposes to provide primary treatment by 2005 to supplement the preliminary treatment provided at present, before discharging via the long sea outfall pipe. As the bathing water already meets the Directive’s guideline values at Dunbar (Belhaven), with the possible exception of when the West Barns outfall is operating, this expenditure is unlikely to lead to any measurable improvement of bathing water quality in the area.

Pease Bay

The identified bathing water at Pease Bay has met the Directive’s mandatory standards for total and faecal coliforms each year since 1988.

The effluent from a privately owned septic tank treatment plant (serving a nearby caravan site on The Bents) enters Pease Bay to the east of the bathing water. Improvements were made to the effluent discharge arrangements for this plant during 1996, whereby the sewage effluent discharge is controlled by a lunar clock and only occurs over a four hour period either side of the high tide between 2100 hours and 0700 hours. This ensures that maximum initial dilution is available and no effluent is discharged during the day. It is probable that these improvements were the main reason that the Directive’s guideline microbiological values were met during the 1996 bathing season. During the early part of the 1997 bathing season, there were a number of poor results, probably due to the unseasonable wet weather during this period, which resulted in Pease Bay not meeting the guideline values in 1997.

The Cockburnspath Burn which receives effluent from Cockburnspath Village (1.5 km inland) also outflows in the vicinity of the bathing water. Bacteriological samples taken by SEPA in 1996 and 1997 showed that, under normal circumstances, the bacteriological loading of the burn from Cockburnspath was not likely to cause any major problems in relation to bathing water quality. However, combined sewer overflows from Cockburnspath may have been responsible for the guideline standard failures mentioned earlier. ESWA proposes to upgrade the Cockburnspath village treatment system to comply with the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive. A detailed project appraisal is underway and it is considered likely that effluent from Cockburnspath will be pumped to a new septic tank at Cove, approximately 1.5 km north of the bathing water, for appropriate treatment prior to discharge. This work is scheduled for completion in 1998.

Sandyhills

The Sandyhills bathing water failed to comply with the Directive’s mandatory standard for faecal coliforms during the 1997 season. Two samples had more than 2,000 faecal coliforms per 100 ml (only one sample can exceed 2,000 faecal coliforms for the site to pass).

The sewage discharges from Barend Chalets and Sandyhills Caravan Park were not considered to be a major source of microbiological contamination. The two faecal coliform failures can almost certainly be attributed to diffuse contamination, originating from animals grazing on the merse some 2.5 km east of the bathing water. There is also a minor contribution from the Southwick Water, which outflows east of the bathing water.

Additional monitoring sites near Sandyhills will be in use during 1998 to determine whether the bacterial source can be pin-pointed more precisely.

Girvan

The identified bathing water at Girvan failed to comply with the Directive’s mandatory standard for faecal coliforms during the 1997 season. Four samples had more than 2,000 faecal coliforms per 100 ml (only one sample can exceed 2,000 faecal coliforms for the site to pass).

The town has historically been served by four outfalls which discharge in the vicinity of the bathing water. A new interceptor sewer has been constructed, draining to a new pumping station, and a new coastal outfall has been sited north of the town. These existing outfalls are being abandoned as the new pumping station is brought on-line. The pumping station is expected to be running properly by mid-November 1997. The remaining work consists of the construction of treatment facilities and the interception of a fifth sewer outfall to the north of the town. Construction work will be undertaken by WOSWA and is due to commence in late November 1997 and is expected to last 18 months.

Turnberry

The Turnberry bathing water has complied with the Directive’s mandatory coliform standards during the 1997 season, the first pass since the current monitoring programme began in 1988.

Failures to comply with the microbiological values in the past were almost certainly caused by the Turnberry Hotel’s outfall pipe and the outflow from the Milton Burn, which flows onto the beach close to the sampling station. This season’s positive result can be attributed to the chlorination schemes operated from May to September by the Turnberry Hotel and by WOSWA at the Kirkoswald sewage treatment works. The requirement for the disinfection schemes is written into the consents of both facilities and will continue to be in place for subsequent bathing seasons.

Ayr (South Beach)

The Ayr (South Beach) bathing water failed to comply with the Directive’s mandatory standard for faecal coliforms during the 1997 season. Seven samples had more than 2,000 faecal coliforms per 100 ml (only one sample can exceed 2,000 faecal coliforms for the site to pass).

At present, the town’s sewage is discharged from outfall pipes at Newton, Euchar Rock, South Beach and Greenan. However, WOSWA has decided that sewage from Ayr is to be pumped to Meadowhead, Irvine, in line with the timescale required by the Urban Waste Water Treat