AWWA WQTC69421

The quality of bathing water is at the junction of three stakes: medical; environmental; and, economical. In the 1970s, the European policy on Water (directive nº76/160/CEE of the 08/12/75) was set up in order to protect bathers from potential medical risks and to limit the pollution of bathing sites. This directive considers the obligation for Member States to follow the quality of water of authorized or usual bathing sites. The new European directive for the management of bathing water quality published in 2006, brings a legal framework to these problems and includes literal communities in the development of operational approaches for the monitoring of the medical risk of a bathing site's water. This directive also introduces the concept of bathing water active management and suggests the setting up of a number of technical actions: assessing the bathing area and its potential sources of contamination; and, realizing regular analyses of water. Includes 10 references.