Scotland’s Bathing Scotland’s Bathing WatersWaters
ARE WE READY FOR ARE WE READY FOR 20122012
Beach Operators Seminar Beach Operators Seminar 7 October 20107 October 2010
Ian Speirs
Scottish Government
Bathing Water DirectiveBathing Water Directive• Applies only to Designated Bathing Applies only to Designated Bathing
WatersWaters
• First introduced 1976 - revised 2006 First introduced 1976 - revised 2006
• Stringent microbiological standards for Stringent microbiological standards for water quality to protect batherswater quality to protect bathers
• Phased implementation to 2015.Phased implementation to 2015.
Scotland’s Bathing Waters Scotland’s Bathing Waters • 2010 bathing season (1 June – 15 Sept)2010 bathing season (1 June – 15 Sept)
• 82 Designated bathing waters 82 Designated bathing waters
• An increase of 22 since 2007An increase of 22 since 2007
• 79 coastal, 3 inland 79 coastal, 3 inland
2010 Monitoring Results2010 Monitoring Results• 1560 Samples
• 349 (22.4%) Mandatory
• 1189 (76.2%) Guideline
• 22 (1.4%) Failing
• 4 Bathing Waters failing quality for EU compliance
Bathing Water RolesBathing Water Roles European CommissionEuropean Commission• Ensure that the Directive is properly Ensure that the Directive is properly
implemented throughout the European implemented throughout the European UnionUnion
• Collate results from each Member StateCollate results from each Member State
• Publish European annual bathing water Publish European annual bathing water report.report.
Scottish GovernmentScottish Government
Responsible for transposing the BWD into Responsible for transposing the BWD into Scottish legislationScottish legislation
The revised Directive has been transposed by The revised Directive has been transposed by • The Bathing Waters (Scotland) Regulations The Bathing Waters (Scotland) Regulations
20082008
Scottish Environment Scottish Environment Protection AgencyProtection Agency
• Monitor and report on water quality at Monitor and report on water quality at each designated bathing watereach designated bathing water
• Publish results on SEPA websitePublish results on SEPA website
• Investigate potential risksInvestigate potential risks
• Publish annual report on bathing water Publish annual report on bathing water compliance.compliance.
UK GovernmentUK GovernmentDept of Environment and Rural Dept of Environment and Rural
AffairsAffairs
• Leads on transposition and Leads on transposition and administration of BWD in UKadministration of BWD in UK
• Reports to EC on UK complianceReports to EC on UK compliance
• First point of EC contact on issues of UK First point of EC contact on issues of UK bathing waters.bathing waters.
Keep Scotland BeautifulKeep Scotland Beautiful
• Administer Scottish Beach Award Administer Scottish Beach Award schemesschemes
• Bathing Water Litter Grant SchemeBathing Water Litter Grant Scheme
• Member of Designation Review PanelMember of Designation Review Panel
Scottish WaterScottish Water• Work closely with SEPA where Work closely with SEPA where
remedial action is requiredremedial action is required
• Carry out investigatory workCarry out investigatory work
• Investment in waste water treatmentInvestment in waste water treatment
Designation Review PanelDesignation Review Panel
• Multi sector panel chaired by SEPAMulti sector panel chaired by SEPA
• Meets October each year to consider Meets October each year to consider applicationsapplications
• Full details of application process on Full details of application process on Scottish Govt and SEPA websitesScottish Govt and SEPA websites
Bathing Water ManagementBathing Water Management• 15 local authorities presently responsible 15 local authorities presently responsible
for the 82 designated beachesfor the 82 designated beaches
• SEPA – Water quality monitoringSEPA – Water quality monitoring
• The Bathing Water (Scotland) Regulations The Bathing Water (Scotland) Regulations 2008 introduce certain requirements for 2008 introduce certain requirements for Local Authorities and SEPA.Local Authorities and SEPA.
Bathing Waters (Scotland) Bathing Waters (Scotland) Regulations 2008Regulations 2008
Regulation 4Regulation 4• Local authorities are obliged to provide Local authorities are obliged to provide
information to Scottish Ministers, or to information to Scottish Ministers, or to another Local Authority, on the quality another Local Authority, on the quality of their bathing watersof their bathing waters
Regulation 5Regulation 5• Local Authorities must encourage Local Authorities must encourage
public participation in the exercise of public participation in the exercise of their functions under the regulationstheir functions under the regulations
Regulation 6 (24 March 2011) Regulation 6 (24 March 2011)
• SEPA must establish profiles for all SEPA must establish profiles for all designated bathing waters. SEPA must designated bathing waters. SEPA must also consult with Local Authorities prior also consult with Local Authorities prior to establishment of profile.to establishment of profile.
Regulation 7 (24 March 2011) Regulation 7 (24 March 2011)
• Local Authorities must establish a visual Local Authorities must establish a visual monitoring programme for pollution monitoring programme for pollution
Regulation 8 (24 March 2012)Regulation 8 (24 March 2012)
• Local authorities are required to ensure Local authorities are required to ensure that certain information is displayed on that certain information is displayed on signage during the bathing seasonsignage during the bathing season
Regulation 13 (24 March 2011)Regulation 13 (24 March 2011)
• Where an interested party is of the opinion Where an interested party is of the opinion that an abnormal situation or an that an abnormal situation or an exceptional circumstance has occurred in exceptional circumstance has occurred in relation to a bathing water, they have a relation to a bathing water, they have a duty to notify other interested parties duty to notify other interested parties including relevant health board including relevant health board
Regulation 14 (24 March 2011)Regulation 14 (24 March 2011)
• Where an interested party (SEPA, the Where an interested party (SEPA, the local authority or land owner) is local authority or land owner) is aware of a cyanobacterial (blue/green aware of a cyanobacterial (blue/green algae) proliferation at a bathing water algae) proliferation at a bathing water which can reasonably be considered which can reasonably be considered to pose a risk to bathers’ health, that to pose a risk to bathers’ health, that party must notify the other interested party must notify the other interested parties and the relevant health board.parties and the relevant health board.
Regulation 15 (24 March 2011)Regulation 15 (24 March 2011)
• Management measures at bathing Management measures at bathing waters affected by macro-algae waters affected by macro-algae (seaweed) and marine phytoplankton (seaweed) and marine phytoplankton proliferationproliferation
Regulation 16 Regulation 16 (24 March 2011) (24 March 2011)
• Management measures at bathing Management measures at bathing waters affected by other pollutionwaters affected by other pollution
Regulation 18 Regulation 18 • Gives SEPA or Local Authority the power to Gives SEPA or Local Authority the power to
undertake action to protect public health without undertake action to protect public health without first carrying out consultation or notification with first carrying out consultation or notification with any person, where it considers it to be necessary any person, where it considers it to be necessary for action be taken without delay.for action be taken without delay.
Regulation 19 Regulation 19 • Where a bathing water is situated within two Where a bathing water is situated within two
adjoining local authority areas, each of those adjoining local authority areas, each of those authorities must carry out within its own area authorities must carry out within its own area the functions conferred on it by these the functions conferred on it by these Regulations.Regulations.
Regulation 17Regulation 17
• The Regulations require that LAs The Regulations require that LAs appoint an appropriate officer (as appoint an appropriate officer (as well as a suitable emergency well as a suitable emergency contact) in respect of coordinating contact) in respect of coordinating the discharge of local authority the discharge of local authority functions under the Regulations.functions under the Regulations.
ContactsContacts• [email protected]@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
• [email protected]@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
• Water Environment TeamWater Environment Team Environmental Quality DivisionEnvironmental Quality DivisionScottish GovernmentScottish Government
1-H North1-H NorthVictoria QuayVictoria Quay EdinburghEdinburgh EH6 6QQEH6 6QQ
