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SCOTLAND'S BATHING WATERS: A strategy for improvement
SUMMARY
Scotland has 60 bathing waters identified under the Bathing Waters (Classification) (Scotland) Regulations 1991 (the 1991 Regulations) 1. The purpose of identification is to ensure that various water quality standards, particularly on microbiological contamination, are met at the bathing waters to protect public health and amenity. The Scottish Executive is committed to achieving these standards, which are set by the European Bathing Waters Directive 2, at all 60 identified bathing waters.
Several Scottish bathing waters have consistently failed to comply with these standards. There are many contributing factors. Until the present time the main cause of the problem has been considered to be sewage effluent. Large scale investment by the water authorities, however, is aimed at eliminating sewage as a contributing factor to bathing water failure. New and improved sewage treatment facilities in the vicinity of bathing waters have been or are being constructed to achieve the Directive's most stringent standard. This strategy requires the continuation of this work.
Even once these improvements are in place, there will still be a residual risk of failure. There are failures even at bathing waters at which there is no sewage input. A variety of causes may be contributing in the case of each failing bathing water. Some will relate to industries discharging in the vicinity of bathing waters. Others have generally been masked by the larger sources of pollution, such as piped effluent from waste water treatment works or septic tanks. In addition, however, we are beginning to appreciate the extent to which a number of small sources or land use practices can play a role in affecting water quality. This type of pollution is generally referred to as diffuse pollution: examples are farming activities and run-off from built up areas, roads, car parks etc.
This strategy will require continuing efforts to address each potential source of pollution:-
1. Work on sewerage and waste water treatment improvement, and on reducing effluent pollution, will require to be prioritised where there are outstanding problems.
2. Action must be taken to tackle problem industrial discharges.
3. Sustainable urban drainage systems should be used to tackle run-off from urban areas.
4. Other forms of diffuse pollution, notably those arising from certain agricultural practices will have to be tackled.
The following four actions, based on research conclusions, should be consistently implemented in an integrated way on farms in bathing water catchments:-
- Production and implementation of risk assessments for manures and slurries.
- Production and implementation of farm nutrient budgets.
- Protection of watercourses and water margin management.
- A separate assessment of farm yard drainage.
The Executive and others are providing advice on practical improvements to help reduce diffuse pollution. The strategy lays stress on a partnership approach, since experience shows that stakeholders are very willing to adopt the kind of practices required, and their own knowledge and experience will be of great assistance. While regulatory tools exist for SEPA to take action against polluters it is expected these powers will be used only where a significant risk of pollution exists and is not being dealt with.
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