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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 on our water publications page. 

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. In 2011 reduced sampling will be applied  at three identified bathing waters. A further four 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.

For more information, take a look at our webpage on the interpretation of bathing water results.