High Level Summary of Statistics Trend Last update: Monday, September 07, 2009
Coastal Bathing Water Quality
High quality bathing waters are important for a wide variety of interests and support Scotland's tourism industry. Monitoring the quality of these waters provides an indication of the health risks of bathing from both direct and diffuse discharges of effluents containing faecal contaminants.
EC Bathing Water Directive (76/160/ EEC) 1 sets out two quality standards - the 'mandatory' standard, and the stricter 'guideline' standard. Member states should comply with the mandatory standard and aim to comply with the guideline standard. In 2008, 91 per cent of identified coastal bathing waters achieved the mandatory standard, and 49 per cent also complied with the guideline standard. In addition to these coastal bathing waters, the three inland bathing waters also met the mandatory standard.
It is important to note that the weather is thought to affect compliance, with wet weather often contributing to poorer results and, conversely, drier, sunnier weather associated with better results. The fall in compliance rates between 2003 and 2004, and 2006 and 2008 may have been a result of the wet weather. In 2003, the summer rainfall was 27.3 per cent below the 1961 - 1990 baseline, whereas 2004 was 42.4 per cent higher than the baseline. Similarly, 2006 was 12.7 per cent lower than the baseline and 2008 was 39.5 per cent above.
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Source: Scottish Environment Protection Agency
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