This directive was introduced in 1976 to protect and improve bathing water quality, with the aim of protecting human health and facilitating recreational use of natural waters. It was replaced by the [..]

An event or combination of events impacting on bathing water quality which the Environment Agency would not expect to occur, on average, more than once every four years.

Algae are types of plant which can be very small like pinpoints floating in the sea or larger like seaweed growing on the sea bed.

How clean a bathing water is.

The point at a bathing water where we take water samples. This is at the place where most bathers are expected.

The bathing water season in England runs from 15 May to 30 September. This period is when we expect most people to bathing waters. Water quality is regularly checked during the season.

The (revised) Bathing Water Directive (2006/7/EC) was fully implemented on 24 March 2015. The revised directive standards are much stricter than those for the old Directive.

The Bathing Water Directive has standards for four classes of water quality: "excellent" – the highest, cleanest class "good" – generally good water quality &qu [..]

More information can be found here:http://www.blueflag.global/.

A volume of water, such as part of a river, lake, stream or the sea.