1. Scotland’s Bathing Waters ARE WE READY FOR 2012 Beach Operators Seminar 7 October 2010 Ian Speirs Scottish Government

2. Bathing Water Directive Applies only to Designated Bathing Waters Applies only to Designated Bathing Waters First introduced 1976 - revised 2006 First introduced 1976 - revised 2006 Stringent microbiological standards for water quality to protect bathers Stringent microbiological standards for water quality to protect bathers Phased implementation to 2015. Phased implementation to 2015.

3. 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 2007 An increase of 22 since 2007 79 coastal, 3 inland 79 coastal, 3 inland

4. 2010 Monitoring Results 1560 Samples 349 (22.4%) Mandatory 1189 (76.2%) Guideline 22 (1.4%) Failing 4 Bathing Waters failing quality for EU compliance

5. Bathing Water Roles European Commission Ensure that the Directive is properly implemented throughout the European Union Ensure that the Directive is properly implemented throughout the European Union Collate results from each Member State Collate results from each Member State Publish European annual bathing water report. Publish European annual bathing water report.

6. Scottish Government Responsible for transposing the BWD into Scottish legislation The revised Directive has been transposed by The Bathing Waters (Scotland) Regulations 2008 The Bathing Waters (Scotland) Regulations 2008

7. Scottish Environment Protection Agency Monitor and report on water quality at each designated bathing water Monitor and report on water quality at each designated bathing water Publish results on SEPA website Publish results on SEPA website Investigate potential risks Investigate potential risks Publish annual report on bathing water compliance. Publish annual report on bathing water compliance.

8. UK Government Dept of Environment and Rural Affairs Leads on transposition and administration of BWD in UK Leads on transposition and administration of BWD in UK Reports to EC on UK compliance Reports to EC on UK compliance First point of EC contact on issues of UK bathing waters. First point of EC contact on issues of UK bathing waters.

9. Keep Scotland Beautiful Administer Scottish Beach Award schemes Administer Scottish Beach Award schemes Bathing Water Litter Grant Scheme Bathing Water Litter Grant Scheme Member of Designation Review Panel Member of Designation Review Panel

10. Scottish Water Work closely with SEPA where remedial action is required Work closely with SEPA where remedial action is required Carry out investigatory work Carry out investigatory work Investment in waste water treatment Investment in waste water treatment

11. Designation Review Panel Multi sector panel chaired by SEPA Multi sector panel chaired by SEPA Meets October each year to consider applications Meets October each year to consider applications Full details of application process on Scottish Govt and SEPA websites Full details of application process on Scottish Govt and SEPA websites

14. Bathing Water Management 15 local authorities presently responsible for the 82 designated beaches 15 local authorities presently responsible for the 82 designated beaches SEPA – Water quality monitoring SEPA – Water quality monitoring The Bathing Water (Scotland) Regulations 2008 introduce certain requirements for Local Authorities and SEPA. The Bathing Water (Scotland) Regulations 2008 introduce certain requirements for Local Authorities and SEPA.

15. Bathing Waters (Scotland) Regulations 2008 Regulation 4 Local authorities are obliged to provide information to Scottish Ministers, or to another Local Authority, on the quality of their bathing waters Local authorities are obliged to provide information to Scottish Ministers, or to another Local Authority, on the quality of their bathing waters Regulation 5 Local Authorities must encourage public participation in the exercise of their functions under the regulations Local Authorities must encourage public participation in the exercise of their functions under the regulations

16. Regulation 6 (24 March 2011) SEPA must establish profiles for all designated bathing waters. SEPA must also consult with Local Authorities prior to establishment of profile. SEPA must establish profiles for all designated bathing waters. SEPA must also consult with Local Authorities prior to establishment of profile. Regulation 7 (24 March 2011) Local Authorities must establish a visual monitoring programme for pollution Local Authorities must establish a visual monitoring programme for pollution

17. Regulation 8 (24 March 2012) Local authorities are required to ensure that certain information is displayed on signage during the bathing season Local authorities are required to ensure that certain information is displayed on signage during the bathing season Regulation 13 (24 March 2011) Where an interested party is of the opinion that an abnormal situation or an exceptional circumstance has occurred in relation to a bathing water, they have a duty to notify other interested parties including relevant health board Where an interested party is of the opinion that an abnormal situation or an exceptional circumstance has occurred in relation to a bathing water, they have a duty to notify other interested parties including relevant health board

18. Regulation 14 (24 March 2011) Where an interested party (SEPA, the local authority or land owner) is aware of a cyanobacterial (blue/green algae) proliferation at a bathing water which can reasonably be considered to pose a risk to bathers’ health, that party must notify the other interested parties and the relevant health board. Where an interested party (SEPA, the local authority or land owner) is aware of a cyanobacterial (blue/green algae) proliferation at a bathing water which can reasonably be considered to pose a risk to bathers’ health, that party must notify the other interested parties and the relevant health board.

19. Regulation 15 (24 March 2011) Management measures at bathing waters affected by macro-algae (seaweed) and marine phytoplankton proliferation Management measures at bathing waters affected by macro-algae (seaweed) and marine phytoplankton proliferation Regulation 16 (24 March 2011) Management measures at bathing waters affected by other pollution Management measures at bathing waters affected by other pollution

20. Regulation 18 Gives SEPA or Local Authority the power to undertake action to protect public health without first carrying out consultation or notification with any person, where it considers it to be necessary for action be taken without delay. Gives SEPA or Local Authority the power to undertake action to protect public health without first carrying out consultation or notification with any person, where it considers it to be necessary for action be taken without delay. Regulation 19 Where a bathing water is situated within two adjoining local authority areas, each of those authorities must carry out within its own area the functions conferred on it by these Regulations. Where a bathing water is situated within two adjoining local authority areas, each of those authorities must carry out within its own area the functions conferred on it by these Regulations.

21. Regulation 17 The Regulations require that LAs appoint an appropriate officer (as well as a suitable emergency contact) in respect of coordinating the discharge of local authority functions under the Regulations. The Regulations require that LAs appoint an appropriate officer (as well as a suitable emergency contact) in respect of coordinating the discharge of local authority functions under the Regulations.

23. Contacts ian.speirs@scotland.gsi.gov.uk ian.speirs@scotland.gsi.gov.uk ian.speirs@scotland.gsi.gov.uk linda.galbraith@scotland.gsi.gov.uk linda.galbraith@scotland.gsi.gov.uk linda.galbraith@scotland.gsi.gov.uk Water Environment Team Environmental Quality Division Scottish Government Water Environment Team Environmental Quality Division Scottish Government 1-H North Victoria Quay Edinburgh EH6 6QQ 1-H North Victoria Quay Edinburgh EH6 6QQ