Title: Bathing water quality in England and Wales in 1993 : report of the National Rivers Authority
Author: National Rivers Authority
Document Type: Monograph
Abstract:
This is the fourth annual report on Bathing Water Quality published by the NRA presenting the
results of the 1993 bathing water survey. For the 1993 bathing season, three new bathing waters were identified in England and Wales giving a total of 419 bathing waters for the purpose of Directive 76/160/EEC. Lyme Regis (Church) Beach was, however, closed in May due to engineering work and was therefore not monitored or included in compliance assessment. The 1993 data, as assessed by DoE in accordance with the Directive show a slight increase in compliance with the mandatory standards compared with 1992. There were an additional four compliant bathing waters. The NRA expects a more dramatic
increase in compliance after the majority of capital schemes being undertaken by the Water Service
Companies are completed in 1995. Trend data show that although the percentage of bathing waters consistently complying with the mandatory standards has remained at around 64 per cent, the number consistently failing has reduced. Analysis of median faecal coliform values suggests that the improved water quality has been maintained over the last four years. Details of the European Blue Flag and Tidy Britain Group Seaside Award schemes for high quality bathing beaches are given in this report, together with an analysis of bathing waters meeting the water quality requirements of those award schemes during the 1993 season. The European Commission's report on the Quality of Bathing Water 1992 which allows
comparison between Member States based on compliance of bathing waters with the mandatory
coliform standards of the Directive, has again shown that the UK is one of the few Member States
where sampling frequency at all bathing waters is above the minimum required by the Directive.
The Commission has stated its intention to revise the Bathing Water Directive and has agreed its
proposals for updating the Directive. The NRA will play an active role in advising DoE on the
implications of the proposals to ensure that any new parameters and standards adopted after
negotiations have a sound scientific basis.
Publisher: National Rivers Authority
Publication Date: 1994
Publication Place: Bristol
Subject Keywords: Bathing Water Directive; Bathing water; Water quality surveys; Annual reports
Geographic Keywords: England; Wales
Extent: 59
Permalink: http://www.environmentdata.org/archive/ealit:4118
Total file downloads: 77
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