Bathing Water Directive. Ed Beard Defra Bathing Water Conference Southport March 2013

Transcription

1 Bathing Water Directive Ed Beard Defra Bathing Water Conference Southport March 2013

2 Revised Bathing Water Directive where are we going? where are we? where have we come from? 2

3 Compliance at coastal waters

4 Compliance across the EU

5 Revised Bathing Water Directive agreed 2006 improved science emphasising human health risk tighter standards focused on 2 microbial parameters emphasis on information and public participation 5

6 New standards previous microbial parameters total and faecal coliforms and faecal streptococci have been replaced by monitoring for E.coli and intestinal enterococci monitoring for total coliforms, salmonella and physicochemical parameters has ceased Mandatory and Guideline standards have been replaced by classifications of Excellent, Good, Sufficient and Poor, based on a 4-year data set 6

7 95%ile Enterococci concentration in the water column (No./100ml) Tighter standards for new classifications Comparison of Enterococci Standards/Classifications between the Current and Revised Bathing Water Directives Imperative Guideline current Bathing Waters Directive Sufficient Good Excellent revised Bathing Waters Directive 7

8 Public information Bathing water profiles Information at all bathing waters showing: Potential pollution sources that may impact water quality, e.g. beach streams and sewage outlets Where to find more detailed information: Environment Agency, Natural Resources Wales (from 2013), DoENI, SEPA or local authority website During abnormal situations and short term pollution, the public must be informed about the nature of the event and its expected duration New bathing water classification (after 2015) 8

9 Transition bathing water profiles from 2011 information at bathing waters from 2012 monitoring under the revised Directive but reporting under the old Directive applying abnormal situations short term pollution? issue rolling four year data sets at the end of each season 9

10 Designating new bathing waters Usage by a large number of bathers is the main criterion Provision of facilities to promote and support bathing will be taken into account Public participation is encouraged, and the public are welcome to comment on the list of bathing waters and suggest sites for designation 10

11 Dedesignating bathing waters At this stage, low usage for bathing is the only reason to remove a site from the list of designated bathing waters The current Directive does not allow de-designation on grounds of low water quality Survey of bather numbers to be carried out at peak times to provide evidence of low usage Reasons for the decline of bathing at the site Safety concerns will be taken into consideration Low usage will continue to be a reason for dedesignation under the revised Directive 11

12 After 2015 season First classification Symbols at bathing waters for following season 12

13 Or water could be poor Clear information Reasons why and plan to improve Negative image economic consequences Government aim is at least sufficient 13

14 Permanent Advice against bathing following 5 Poor classifications, permanent advice against bathing must be put in place site will no longer be a bathing water and a sign will state that this is the case, giving reasons first year when this could happen will be 2020 permanent advice against bathing may also be given between 2015 and 2020 if achieving Sufficient would be infeasible or disproportionately expensive 14

15 What next? have we got the length of the season right? applying short term pollution possible discounting of results continued improvement programme scrutiny from European Commission 15

16 Future of the Directive Directive to be reviewed again by 2020 Review of the parameters Possible phasing out of the Sufficient classification 16

17 Thanks for listening 17