Thanks-swimming water

The map shows the function of water as bathing water for recreational use. The qualification of bathing water sites in the Netherlands is assessed on the basis of the European Bathing Water Directive for 4 quality classes; excellent, good, acceptable and bad. Not all bathing water locations in the Netherlands comply with the European Bathing Water Directive. The EU Bathing Water Directive 2006/7/EC lays down provisions for: the monitoring and classification of bathing water quality; the management of bathing water quality; and (c) providing information on bathing water quality to the public. The aim of the Directive is to preserve, protect and improve the quality of the environment and to protect human health, in addition to the Water Framework Directive. On the initiative of FEE (Foundation for Environmental Education), governments, entrepreneurs and recreationalists are involved in the care of clean and safe water. ‘The Blue Flag’ is used as a quality mark for bathing beaches, lakes and marinas, which indicates that the bathing water meets a number of water quality criteria. The bathing water is analysed for presence and number of specific bacteria such as fecal streptococces (enterococcen) and Escherichia coli. Both bacteria occur in the stools of humans and animals and are a good indication of bathing water quality, for which standards have been established. In the Netherlands, concentrations of cyanobacteria concentrations are also monitored, but there are no standards for this. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has developed guidelines for water quality when exposed to cyanobacteria and microcystins. Rijkswaterstaat manages 220 bathing locations. The management of these sites complies with the EU Bathing Water Directive. A bathing water profile is available per bathing site, which describes the important characteristics of this site. A map of the swimming zone indicating the control point at which the location is sampled is included in the profiles. The bathing areas are defined using the recommendations of the report entitled ‘WFD and surface water Protection of bathing water and surface water for drinking water treatment under the European Water Framework Directive’. Bathing water quality is examined at least once a month. The control point is the location in the bathing water where: most swimmers are expected, or (b) according to the bathing water profile, the greatest risk of contamination is expected. Bathing water profiles are updated according to the criteria set out in the EU Swim Water Directive and depend on the quality class in which the site falls.