Citation
(2009), "European bathing water quality improved in 2008", Management of Environmental Quality, Vol. 20 No. 6. https://doi.org/10.1108/meq.2009.08320fab.001
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2009, Emerald Group Publishing Limited
European bathing water quality improved in 2008
Article Type: News From: Management of Environmental Quality: An International Journal, Volume 20, Issue 6
The number of European bathing sites meeting mandatory hygiene standards increased during the 2008 season after a drop the previous year, according to figures published by the European Commission.
Member states improved water quality without “de-listing” bathing sites, a tactic they have used for several years to avoid addressing pollution problems. EU sates curbed this practice in 2007, leading to a slight decline in water quality. They improved their performance last year while continuing to refrain from de-listing sites. The figures show that 96 per cent of coastal sites and 92 per cent of inland sites meet minimum health standards set in the annex of the EU’s 2006 bathing water directive. The law sets maximum concentration levels for bacteria escerichia coli and intestinal enterococchi.
By 2015 all EU bathing waters should comply with the directive’s minimum “sufficient” quality standard. Twelve member states already comply with this standard and the law’s monitoring requirements. These are Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Slovakia, Spain and Sweden.