Sampling and results

Water quality samples are taken at each bathing water throughout the bathing season, from 1 June to 15 September. A pre-season sample is taken during the last fortnight in May.

EU water quality classifications are calculated at the end of the season and apply to each bathing water for the duration of the following season.

Overview

Most bathing waters are sampled 18 times during the season. Some geographically remote sites are sampled 10 times. Sites which have consistently demonstrated excellent water quality are sampled five times. Investigative work is undertaken to eliminate or minimise the sources of pollution which still have an intermittent adverse effect on several designated bathing waters.

The new Bathing Water Directive

The new Bathing Water Directive (2006/7/EC) came into force on 24 March 2006 and was translated into Scottish law by The Bathing Waters (Scotland) Regulations 2008.

The Directive, now fully implemented, introduced a new classification system with more stringent water quality standards and puts an emphasis on providing information to the public.

2011 2012 2015 2016

• Publication of bathing water profiles

• Publication of monitoring calendar

• Action, where required, on cyanobacterial (blue-green algae) blooms, macroalgae (seaweed), marine phytoplankton and other waste

• Switch to new parameters

• Summary information to be posted at beach locations

• Implementation of signage and discounting

• New abnormal situation rules to apply

• Report water quality standards against the new Bathing Water Directive

• Post the annual water quality classes and information symbols at all beaches from the start of each season – on going

• Rolling classifications using (normally) four years monitoring data will be reported annually

What we measure

Changes were made in 2012 to the bacterial entities monitored. These arise from recommendations from the World Health Organization. In place of the previous coliform and faecal streptococci standards, the new directive sets standards for Escherichia coli and intestinal enterococci. While slightly altering the microbiological analytical techniques necessary, the differences in the values obtained are considered to be minimal.

Sampling programme

Water quality samples are taken at each bathing water throughout the bathing season, from 1 June to 15 September. A pre-season sample is taken during the last fortnight in May.

The dates we take samples on are set in advance of the bathing season. We sample on these dates unless there is an unexpected operational reason e.g. vehicle breakdown.

Most bathing waters are sampled 18 times during the season. Some geographically remote sites are sampled 10 times. Sites which have consistently demonstrated excellent water quality are sampled five times.

Additional investigative work is undertaken as needed to eliminate or minimise any pollution which may affect our bathing waters.

Results

We analyse water samples for Escherichia coli and intestinal enterococci and post the results throughout the bathing season. We make observations at bathing waters for cyanobacterial (blue-green algae) blooms, macroalgae (seaweed), marine phytoplankton and other waste and instigate actions if required.

EU water quality classifications are calculated at the end of the season and apply to each bathing water for the duration of the following season.

All of our sampling is in accordance with Bathing Water Directive (2006/7/EC) which came into force on 24 March 2006 and was translated into Scottish law by The Bathing Waters (Scotland) Regulations 2008.

Short term pollution

Our electronic signage network at selected sites across Scotland provides real-time predictions of bathing water quality. This allows potential bathers to make an informed choice about using the water.

Any samples collected during short-term pollution events, when there is a public warning system in place to inform prospective bathers of potentially poorer water quality can be removed from the overall classification dataset. A separate closure sample must have been taken to demonstrate that the event has ended and management measures must be in place to prevent, reduce or eliminate the causes of the pollution. The Directive says that a maximum of 15% of the samples used to assess the classification of a bathing water can be disregarded from the assessment and, if necessary, replaced.

Abnormal situations

An abnormal situation is defined by the Bathing Water Directive as an event or combination of events impacting on bathing water quality at the location concerned and not expected to occur on average more than once every four years. During an abnormal situation the monitoring calendar can be suspended so that samples which assess compliance of the bathing water are not taken. This is because they are unrepresentative of the water quality of a bathing water. When an abnormal situation is in force, signs must be put up by the beach controller warning the public of the nature and expected duration of the pollution.

Bacteriological analysis

Bacteriological analysis is carried out at our specialist microbiological laboratories in North Lanarkshire and Aberdeen. All of these laboratories operate to United Kingdom Accreditation Service quality systems for their analytical work. We also participate in external inter-laboratory testing schemes such as those run by the Public Health Laboratory and Aquacheck. The inter-laboratory testing has demonstrated consistent high accuracy of our bacteriological test results.