ec bathing waters and bathing water quality management calum mcphail environmental quality unit...
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EC Bathing Waters and Bathing Water quality
management
Calum McPhail
Environmental Quality
Unit manager
Caroline Dilks
Senior Scientist
Recent BWs Directive compliance - Scotland
2006 - all 61 sites passed (first time since monitoring began in mid 1980’s)
2010 – 4 fails (82 sites)
and 14 single sample (yellow flags)
1.4% of all samplesi.e. 22 out of 1560
COUNCIL OFTHE EUROPEAN UNION
Brussels
Regulations (Scotland) made March 2008
BW profiles for March 2011
Monitoring starts 2012
First Compliance report 2015
Revised 2006 Directive
Rolling 4 years’ data to produce the annual
Water quality classification
4 status levels (excellent, good, sufficient, poor)
Statistical probability calculated as percentiles (%iles) (the current directive fixed good/poor limits and annual compliance by % of 20 single samples)
Monitoring calendar – within 4 days of date
80 samples for the classification (most sites)
Revised 2006 Directive
Focus is on two parameters for analysis - Intestinal enterococci and Escherichia coli instead of nineteen in the current Directive.
Other parameters to be taken into account –
cyanobacteria, phytoplankton and macro-algae if there is a known potential for accumulation and risks to health,
and other nuisance pollutants (litter, tarry residues etc).
Based on better science
Aligned to WHO recommendations referenced to real epidemiology and exposure studies
Improve public participation and information- modern technologies e.g. Internet and maps
Profiles and signage
Beach management – coordinated roles for beach operators, relevant authorities
Beach Signage – Operators (SEPA and local authority)
Predict and Protect – allows for short term pollution
Revised 2006 Directive
Short term pollution events and abnormal situations…
“Adequate management measures including….. surveillance early warning systems and monitoring
….with a view to preventing bathers’ exposure by means of a warning, or where necessary a bathing prohibition”
Need systems to disseminate required information to the Public
EU bathing water profiles
Profiles – March 2011
SEPA involvement in EU guidance,
UK working,
EU twinning project with Estonia and Austria
The bathing water profile
Purpose to provide relevant information to the public
about bathing waters and their catchments, including: potential sources of pollution; the conditions under which these are likely
to be an issue; the management measures taken.
Focus the requirements listed in Schedule 1 of the
Scottish Regulations.
Statutory requirements
SEPA must establish, and thereafter keep under review bathing water profiles by 24 March 2011;
Before establishing (and prior to review) SEPA must consult: the relevant local authority; the relevant health board; Scottish Water; SNH; bodies representing agricultural interests.
Consultation
Stage 1: Consultation on the general template February – March 2010; responses received from SNH, Scottish
Water, Keep Scotland Beautiful.
Stage 2: Consultation on the individual profiles November – December 2010; will include local authorities; profiles available on SEPA’s website.
Profile content
Description of the bathing water; Water quality assessment and bathing
advice; Assessment of risks to water quality; Description of the catchment (land draining
to bathing water); Measures to improve bathing water quality;
diffuse pollution from agricultural sources; sewage and other discharges; diffuse urban sources;
Contact details and sources of information.
Maps
Map of the Ayr (South Beach) bathing waterMap of the catchment draining into Ayr
(South Beach) bathing water
Reviews / updates
Current classification Poor Sufficient Good
Minimum review frequency
1 – 2 years
3 years 4 years
Cycles based on current classification
Summary of 2010 classification (Directive 2006/7/EC) Excellent : 21 Good : 21 Sufficient : 13 Poor : 27
Information sheet
Current classification; General description (based
on profile); Potential for short-term
pollution; Advice against bathing; Reporting pollution; Additional sources of
information; Map of the designation.
Conclusion and summary
Moving towards 2015
Moving towards 2015 Half still reach Good or Excellent
Working for further improvements:- diffuse agricultural pollution
- diffuse urban pollution- assets e.g. treatment plant, sewerage and CSOs
Better public information Beach management Predict and protect systems – allow (expect) short
pollution Beach signage – SEPA signs, LA signs Abnormal situations 1 in 4 year Sampling calendar – within 4 days