Key Scottish Environment Statistics 2009
Annual publication containing summary of key statistics on environmental trends in Scotland
Marine
Compliance with the EC Bathing Water Directive (76/160/EEC): 1988-2008
Percentage compliance of coastal bathing water
1988 |
1990 |
1995 |
2000 |
2005 |
2007 |
2008 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mandatory standard compliance (%) |
52 |
52 |
83 |
84 |
95 |
88 |
91 |
Guideline standard (%) |
9 |
26 |
22 |
41 |
57 |
49 |
49 |
Failure to comply (%) |
48 |
48 |
17 |
16 |
5 |
12 |
9 |
Number of identified coastal bathing waters 1,2 |
23 |
23 |
23 |
58 |
58 |
59 |
77 |
High quality bathing waters are important for a wide variety of interests and they 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.
The EC Bathing Water Directive (76/160/EEC) 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% of the 77 identified coastal bathing waters achieved the mandatory standard, and 49% also complied with the guideline standard.
It is important to note that the weather has a bearing on compliance, with wet weather often contributing to poorer results and, conversely, drier, sunnier weather associated with better results. When samples are taken in abnormal weather conditions, these may be excluded and a replacement sample taken immediately after the abnormal effects have ceased.
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