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Bathing Water
Quality
Directive
76/160/EEC for the
Bathing Water
Integrated Coastal Zone
Management (ICZM) is a multi-disciplinary approach to promote
sustainable management of coastal zones. It covers the full cycle of
information collection, planning (it its broadest sense), decision
making, management and monitoring. ICZM uses the informed
participation and co-operation of all stakeholders to assess the
societal goals in a given coastal area. The proposal to revise the
Directive for the Bathing Water Quality (76/160/EEC), with which
Cyprus has been harmonized, is based on the ICZM principles.
The parameters of the
Proposal to replace the Directive 76/160/EEC
for the Bathing Water Quality are the
following:
Parameters for Bathing
Water Quality
|
|
A |
B |
C |
D |
|
|
Microbiological Parameters |
Excellent
Quality |
Good
Quality |
Methods of
Analysis |
|
1 |
Intestinal Enterococci (I.E) in cfu/100 ml
|
10058 |
20058 |
ISO 7899- |
|
2 |
Escherischia coli (E.C.) in cfu/100 ml
|
25058 |
50058 |
ISO 9308 -1 |
|
3 |
Phytoplankton
blooms or macro-algae proliferation59
|
|
Negative result on tests |
Microscopic monitoring60 toxicity
tests61, visual inspection. |
|
|
Physico-chemical Parameters |
Excellent Quality |
Good Quality |
Methods of
Inspection |
|
4 |
Mineral Oils
|
- |
No film
visible on the surface of the water and no odour |
Visual and olfactory inspection |
|
5 |
Tarry
residues and floating materials such as wood, plastic, glass,
rubber or any other waste substance |
- |
Absence |
Visual
inspection |
|
6 |
pH62
|
- |
6 to 9
No
unexplainable variations |
Electrometry
with calibration on pH 7 and pH 9. |
The Bathing Water
Profile
According to Article 6
of the Directive of the EU Parliament and of the Council concerning
the quality of bathing water, the bathing water profile consists of
a)
a description of the physical,
geographical and hydrological characteristics of the bathing water;
b)
an identification – quantitative
and qualitative – of all potential sources of pollution;
c)
an assessment of their potential to
pollute bathing water, thus impairing the health of bathers. This
assessment should be made, in terms of time – accidental or chronic
risk potential – and in terms of the nature and volume of all
polluting and potentially polluting discharges and their effects in
terms of distance from the bathing water.
Elements a) and b) should
also be provided on a detailed map.
Other relevant information
may be attached or included as deemed appropriate..
d)
a description of the monitoring
points;
e)
an assessment whether this
monitoring provides as well representative information for other
recreational activities practiced with a similar risk of swallowing
water as bathing (e.g. windsurfing, kayaking).
f)
The bathing water profile will be
updated following the attaché schedule
|
Bathing
Water Classification |
Excellent |
Good |
Poor |
|
Bathing water
profile update |
Every 3 years |
Every 2 years |
To be
determined in relation to the nature and severity of the risk
but not less frequently than once a year, at the start of the
bathing season. |
|
Aspects to be
assessed |
Update of (a)
(b) and (e) |
Update of (a)
(b) and (c) |
Update of
(a), (b) and (c) |
Bibliography:
1. Commission of the
European Communities. (2002). Proposal for a Directive of the
European Parliament and of the Council concerning the quality of
bathing water. Brussels, COM (2002) 581 final, 2002/0254 (COD), p.
5, 34.
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