Bathing Waters
Key Findings
- Bathing waters in Scotland as designated by the Scottish Government, in accordance with the Bathing Water (Scotland) Regulations 2008. Each year, new sites may be added to the list, prior to the designated bathing season: 1st June – 15th September. SEPA suggests the general criteria for designating bathing waters includes the site being popular among bathers, and with waters that do not pose a risk to public health (i.e. being a safe body of water with limited to no pollution). (SEPA, 2024b)
- As of 2024, 89 bathing waters have been designated in Scotland, 8 of which lie in the East Grampian area (Scottish Government, 2024). SEPA (2024b) monitors pollution levels of all these bathing waters throughout the bathing season, and slightly in advance. They test for levels of E. coil and intestinal enterococci bacteria, and visually assess levels of cyanobacteria, seaweed, phytoplankton and anything else of note. For each beach, their research offers a general classification based on the last bathing season's results, as well as daily predictions of water quality. This classification is split into four rankings: poor, sufficient, good, and excellent.
- 'Using the data available on the SEPA (2024a) website, we have calculated the following trends in Scottish bathing water quality since 2017:
(The SEPA classification system is used as such: Poor = 1, Sufficient = 2, Good = 3, Excellent = 4)'Overall, Scottish bathing waters have seen an increase in average quality since 2017, from 2.87 to 3.25, increasing from an average of sufficient to good (fig. 1). It should be noted that the 2020 ratings were carried over from 2019, as the COVID-19 pandemic interrupted sampling. As of 2023, only two beaches scored poor: Kinghorn (Harbour Beach) and Lower Largo. - 'When considering the East Grampian region specifically, of the 8 bathing waters in the region, the average trend since 2017 has been positive, rising from 3 to 3.63 (fig. 2). The small dip in 2021 seems to reflect a temporary dip in quality of Stonehaven beach from good to sufficient. When examining the trends of the beaches individually (fig. 3), Balmedie and Fraserburgh (Philorth) are shown to be the most consistent and cleanest, scoring excellent every year. Of all 8 beaches, by 2023 only two had not achieved an excellent classification – Collieston and Stonehaven. However, they most recently score a good ranking, suggesting that designated bathing waters in the East Grampian area all range from good to excellent quality.
Map of all SEPA bathing locations, and EGCP range.
C. E.B Lovie 24
C. E. B Lovie 24
Notes
None
Linked Information Sheets
Perceived Health of, and Threats to the Marine Environment - Numbers of fishing vessels – Training - Employment
Key sources of Information
SEPA (2024a) Scotland's Bathing Waters: Bathing water locations and results. Accessed: 01.07.24
SEPA (2024) Scotland's Bathing Waters: Bathing water profiles. Accessed: 03.07.24
Scottish Government (n.d.) Guidance Bathing Waters Designation. Accessed: 03.07.24
Scottish Government (2024) Designated bathing waters: 2024 bathing season. Accessed: 03.07.24
SEPA (2024) Scotland’s Bathing Waters: Today’s water quality predictions. Accessed: 03.07.24
Reviewed on/by
27/06/24 by Cathryn Lovie
19/06/24 by Ian Hay
Status
First Draft (this is for demonstration only at this time and has not been reviewed)
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Contact us
Telephone: 07971149117
E-mail: ian.hay@stateofthecoast.scot
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