Revised Bathing Water Directive (2006/7/EC)
The revised Directive introduces much tougher standards, but based on only two parameters - intestinal enterococci and Escherichia coli - rather than the many measured before. It puts in place three new compliance categories - excellent, good (broadly equivalent to the existing guideline standard) and sufficient, as well as poor. The Government will be required to ensure that all bathing waters are of sufficient standard by 2015 and that appropriate measures are taken to increase the numbers classified as excellent or good. Classification will be based on four years' worth of data.
From 2008, Member States are required to identify all bathing waters and the length of the bathing season annually prior to the start of the bathing season.
The revised Directive also ties in with the requirements of the Water Framework Directive. A report on risks to designated bathing waters will be produced by SEPA to inform that Directive's River Basin Management Planning process as well as meet the revised Bathing Water Directive's requirement for bathing water profiles. SEPA will also be required to develop and implement improvement plans for any bathing water classified as poor.
The revised Directive also requires greater dissemination of information and specific elements of public participation. Specific information must be made available, especially during short-term pollution incidents. The Directive also encourages greater public participation in the establishment, review and updating of lists of bathing waters - an activity the Government will promote through the new designation process.
The revised Directive was transposed through Bathing Waters (Scotland) Regulations 2008 and Bathing Waters (Sampling & Analysis) (Scotland) Directions 2008.