Lobbying

A new directive on the management of « bathing water » quality.

The European Union's policy on the quality of “bathing water” (1976) was replaced in 2006. Member nations have until 2015 to implment the new directive. On this occasion, Surfrider has lobbied next to the European Parliament to ensure that all new standards and regulations

However, the new directive does not take fully into account nautical sporting zones, the surveillance period is limited to the summer season, and worse still, chemical pollution is no longer taken into consideration. It is for those reasons, the directive does not satisfy us.

In order to account for the failings of the new legislation, Surfrider has established independent laboratories to undertake analysis through its “Keepers of the Coast” program.

Through our field research in the "Keepers of the Coast" program, we have drafted a report on the quality of European “bathing water”.

Simulation on the impact of the 2006 directive on the classification of beaches in France:

The new European directive (2006/7/CE) relating to the quality of bathing water, adopted in 2006, will be enforced in 2015.

The bacterial limits that the new legislation imposes are four times stricter than the 1976 levels, putting more beaches at risk of closure.

We have recovered the official data (concentrations in fecal bacteria) of the last four years in order to determine the effects of the new standards. These scientific studies, conducted since 2007, demonstrate that if authorities do not act immediately by improving water quality, numerous beaches are at risk of being banned for bathing. The stricter standards also provide elected officials the option of closing beaches without addressing the problem of pollution.

In brief, our objective is to alert the public at large and to mobilize institutions in order to prevent the closure and the downgrading of many French beaches in 2015.