The European Commissions' proposal for the new Bathing Water Directive has not gone far enough towards protecting the water user of today according to clean water advocates, Surfers Against Sewage.

SAS had hoped that since the Directive was originally designed to protect the health of citizens using the water, the Commission would see health protection of all recreational water users as the priority for the new Directive. However, despite the body of evidence revealing that recreational water users make up a significant percentage of people using Europe's beaches and inland waters, the Commission have chosen once again to base the Directive around the protection of the bather.

The surfers also have reservations concerning the new microbiological standards set for bathing waters, questioning why there need to be two different quality standards and whether the protection afforded by the new microbiological standards is acceptable to the water user. The lower of the two new standards still presents a one in twenty chance to bathers of contracting gastro-intestinal illness upon bathing.

Despite these concerns, SAS welcome the more realistic and relevant approach to Directive implementation that the Commissions proposal has outlined. The move away from pure numerical compliance towards management driven conformity (necessitating practical management actions and provision of information), is a clear improvement on the previous system.

Vicky Garner, SAS Campaign Director
"Over the next week we'll be going through the proposal with a fine toothcomb and developing our position with regards to what's on paper. As representatives of Europe's water users it is securing them the best deal in terms of protection from health risks that will be at the forefront of our minds. The next stage will be lobbying of the Environment Committee of the European Parliament to ensure that the water user is not forgotten in the debate".

Now that the proposal has been issued it will be considered by the Environment Committee who will ultimately vote on its contents and then pass the approved document onto the European Parliament for their input.

For further information contact Vicky Garner on 01872 553001

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