EU Water Law

Monitoring must be effected at the location within the bathing water where “most bathers are expected” or the greatest risk of pollution is expected (Article 3(3)). Adequate management measures must be taken timely where Member States are aware of unexpected situations that have, or could reasonably be expected to have, an adverse impact on bathing water quality and on bathers’ health (Article 7). In addition, when the bathing water profile indicates a tendency to eutrophication in that it indicates either a potential for cyanobacterial proliferation or a tendency for proliferation of macro-algae and/or marine phytoplankton, appropriate monitoring measures or management measures must be taken (Article 8 and Article 9).

The efficacy of such measures must be increased by the prompt and active dissemination “during the bathing season in an easily accessible place in the near vicinity of each bathing water” of the current bathing water classification and any bathing prohibition or advise against bathing “by means of a clear and simple sign or symbol”, and even of a general description of the bathing water in non-technical language.” In the case of bathing waters subject to short-term pollution, information must additionally be given that the bathing water is subject to such pollution and of the number of days on which bathing was prohibited or advised against during the preceding bathing season. The nature and expected duration of abnormal situations, the reasons why bathing is prohibited or advised against, inter alia, are also made known. Member States are required to use appropriate media and technologies, including the internet, to disseminate actively and promptly “in several languages, when appropriate”, a list of bathing waters, the classification of each one over the last three years, the source of pollution of those classified as being of “poor” quality, and the measures taken with a view to preventing bathers’ exposure to pollution as well as information on short-term pollutions (Article 12).