Stricter EU bathing water rules to enter force

A new EU law on bathing water quality will enter force on 24 Marchafter being published in the bloc's official journal on Saturday. The directive strengthens rules first passed in 1976 by introducing a new "sufficient" water quality category and setting stricter standards for bacterial pollution in coastal and inland waters.

EU member states must transpose the directive into national law by 24 March 2008.  The new health standards take effect in 2015. Standards will be subject to change by 2020, depending on new epidemiological studies.

The directive brings down the number of quality tests from nineteen to two, focusing on bacteria that most affect heath: escerichia coli and intestinal enterococchi. The directive does not apply to swimming pools, spas and health resorts. It was finalised by EU governments and the European parliament last October (ED 13/10/05 http://www.environmentdaily.com/19611).

Bathing waters will be classified into four categories ranging from "excellent" to "poor".  Those classed as poor will have to be reviewed every two years compared with three and four years for those with a higher ranking. Beaches with a "poor" rating for five years running face a permanent ban.

Standards for intestinal enterococchi in the "sufficient" category are 330 per millilitre for inland waters and 185 for coastal waters, measured at 90 percentiles. The values for the bacterium escherichia coli are unchanged.

Member states will be required to display signs at registered bathing sites to indicate water quality. They must provide the public with findings of regular quality tests, made available through the internet.

Follow-up: European commission http://europa.eu.int/comm/index_en.htm, tel: +32 2 299 1111, plus bathing water quality page http://europa.eu.int/water/water-bathing/index_en.html and official journal

http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/lex/LexUriServ/site/en/oj/2006/l_064/l_06420060304en00370051.pdf

Environment Daily is Europe's leading environmental news service. A free trial is available by clicking on the following link: http://www.environmentdaily.com/web/helcom