| 18th January
2001 A cleaner future for Europe's’ water users? In the last
week the draft proposal for the revised Bathing Water Directive,
landed on the doormats of all interested parties, marking the
start of the official consultation process on the Directive.
With high hopes for a piece of legislation that will protect
all water users from the risks associated with sewage polluted
water, SAS are stoked to announce that the Commission's proposal
actually goes some way towards doing the job! Surfers Against
Sewage have been pushing for changes in the legislation for
years, saying that the old Directive is outdated, does not protect
public health and does not take into account water users other
than bathers. In addition to lobbying the House of Commons over
the Directive, SAS have been building a ‘Water Alliance’, pulling
together the governing bodies of all water sports and asking
for their support in the campaign. 12 governing bodies have
already signed up, representing thousands of water users. SAS
have three main proposals for the Directive: A broadening of
the concept of bathing waters to incorporate those areas that
are actively promoted for water sports other than bathing (as
the word is traditionally interpreted). |
More accessible
information both on location at beaches and via the Internet;
to enable the public to make an informed choice about where
they are going in the water. A single standard that is adequate
to protect health. All three proposals have been built into
the Directive in some way. There is clear emphasis on the provision
of information, proposals for a single microbiological standard;
a standard that is more relevant than those currently in place
and a re-interpretation of the word ‘bathing’, to cover activities
where risk of ingestion of water is a possibility. Less of an
emphasis will be placed on monitoring and more on practical
management actions to minimize risks – a much more realistic
approach! It is not all perfect and there are certain points
needing clarification, but over the next few months SAS will
put their case to the European Commission as part of the official
consultation process and then to the European Parliament. It
is essential that SAS have the evidence to show the European
Parliament that water users don’t just use waters that bathers
frequent. The Parliament have the power to alter the proposal
from the Commission, so SAS must show them why the new proposed
approach is so much better than the old one. For further information
please contact Vicky Garner or James Hendy on (01872) 553001.
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