Results
For ease of reporting, Scotland has been divided into three
areas: North | East | West
To find out more about the bathing water results for a specific
area, select the geographic region of interest from the menu on the
left, or use the map below.
Samples are taken at each bathing water throughout the bathing
season (1 June to 15 September). A pre-season sample is taken
during the last fortnight in May. When assessing the level of pass
for each identified bathing water, it is necessary to look at the
results over the entire season. A detailed explanation of how to
interpret the results can be found in the related items section.
The actual level of pass which each identified bathing water
achieved will be provided at the end of the season, and will also
be reported in SEPA's next annual bathing water report. Previous
years reports can be accessed by clicking the ‘publications’ tab on
the menu on the left.
Sampling frequency
The standard frequency of sampling is set out in the annex to the
directive. Checks must be made at least once a fortnight during the
bathing season for total and faecal coliforms, transparency,
colour, mineral oil, surface-active substances reacting with
methylene blue and phenols.
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 directive also
makes provision for more frequent sampling in the event of water
quality deterioration, or less frequent (4-weekly) sampling
following demonstration of sustained good bathing water
quality.
Under the Bathing Waters (Classification) (Scotland) Regulations
2008, the bathing water season in Scotland runs from 1 June to 15
September inclusive. Between 1998 and 2003, at least 20 samples
were taken at each identified water, each season, in addition to
one pre-season sample. This means that for each parameter and each
season, there is normally a series of at least 20 samples showing
the counts of total and faecal coliforms, transparency and the
results of an equivalent number of inspections for colour, oil,
detergent foam and phenols.
Reduced sampling
Following sustained improvements made in bathing waters quality,
the European Community (EC) has now offered to allow the reduced
sampling provision available within the legislation, to be applied
to numerous Scottish waters. Following consultation with
stakeholders, SEPA has chosen to implement this offer where
practical.
The reduced monitoring frequency was introduced in 2004. The
sites selected were sampled five times during the bathing season,
at intervals of not more than four weeks.
To ensure continued compliance at waters subject to the reduced
sampling strategy, rules have been devised to document procedures
as to how SEPA reacts, or, if necessary, makes in-season changes to
the monitoring plan in the event of any suspected deterioration in
water quality. In the exceptional event that the guideline
standards are grossly exceeded on a single occasion or are exceeded
on multiple occasions, SEPA’s sampling frequency will be increased
back to 20 samples, all to be collected in season, as part of the
detailed investigation of the deterioration. In addition, if the
guideline standards are exceeded at all, the sampling rate will be
increased to the 20 samples per season rate the following year.
As a result of these rules, the number of sites eligible for
reduced monitoring has decreased from prior seasons. Reduced
monitoring will apply in 2008 at two identified bathing waters. A
further six sites will be sampled 10 times due to geographical
constraints.
Since 2006, non-identified bathing waters that do not qualify
for reduced sampling will be sampled 10 times a year. This
reduction in water quality sampling will allow more resource to be
put into the investigative work required to eliminate or minimise
the diffuse sources of pollution which still have an intermittent
adverse affect on several official designated bathing waters.
More information on the interpretation of bathing water results
can be found here.