The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) has released its most recent water quality classifications for bathing areas across Scotland, following tests conducted at sites across the country – with one popular bathing location falling into “poor” quality.
Sepa closely monitor beaches and inland waters designated as official “bathing waters”, such as Troon, Portobello, and St Andrews, to check standards are being upheld for those who use the area to swim or bathe in.
Water bodies are analysed for Escherichia coli and intestinal enterococci, and observations of cyanobacterial (blue-green algae) blooms, macroalgae (seaweed), marine phytoplankton, and other waste are carried out.
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Sepa’s website states that: “The annual bathing water classification is determined using statistics calculated from results taken over the previous four years. The water quality indicators we test for are the bacteria E Coli (EC) and intestinal enterococci (IE).
"The statistics take account of both the average value and the range of values in the four-year dataset. The annual bathing water classification is determined using statistics calculated from results taken over the previous four years.”
Samples are taken at each throughout the bathing season, officially classed as June 1 to September 15. A pre-season sample is taken on the last fortnight in May. Most waters are sampled 18 times during this time frame, with some geographically remote sampled less, at 10 times. Waters can be classified as “excellent”, “good”, “sufficient” or “poor”.
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Sites which have consistently been of excellent water quality are only sampled five times. When sites do not meet the desired standard, investigative work is undertaken to eliminate or lessen pollution sources.
In Scotland, there are currently 85 designated bathing waters. Twenty of this list were added in 2008, following information from a Scottish Government funded aerial survey and count of beach users conducted by Sepa and Keep Scotland Beautiful.
The 2021 figures show that of 85 bathing waters analysed, 32 (38%) were rated as excellent, 35 (41%) were rated as good, 17 (20%) rated as sufficient and 1 was rated as poor (1%).
Take a look at our interactive map below to see how your local bathing waters fare:
Dhoon Bay near Kirkcudbright was found to be of poor quality, whilst Carrick Bay, Eyemouth, Irvine, Kinghorn, and Luss Bay were amongst the 20 percent of merely sufficient quality ratings. Amongst the top-rated were Achmelvich Beach, Anstruther, Dornoch, Kingsbarns, Loch Morlich, and the Peterhead Lido. A full list can be found on the Sepa website.
A spokesperson from Sepa commented, following the finding of "poor" quality of water at Dhoon Bay: “Improving Scotland’s water environment is a key priority for Sepa, and that includes the Bathing Waters so many of us enjoy.
"Across Scotland, we work to protect the water environment through monitoring, licensing, inspection and responding to incidents. We also work with a wide range of partners to achieve improvements at a local level.
"In addition, we provide information to bathers during the Bathing Season on the water quality in their area using our network of electronic signs and through advice from the relevant local authority posted at bathing waters.
“At Dhoon Bay, Scotland’s only ‘Poor’ Bathing Water, Sepa is engaging directly with the local community to ensure private sewage treatment systems are improved in time for the 2022 Bathing Season and beyond. Funds have been made available by the Scottish Government for additional treatment and Scottish Water is also providing a tank emptying service.
"South of Scotland Enterprise is assisting with plans to upgrade treatment at a caravan park in an area that is important for tourism. Our specialist officers will be undertaking farm visits as land managers can also play their part in helping to reduce diffuse pollution from fields and steadings where livestock are kept.
"All of these actions are aimed at reducing risks to water quality in what will be a critical year for this location."
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