Background
The 1986 EU Bathing Water Directive has been a powerful driver of improved bathing water quality in the UK and Europe. Together with the 1991 Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, which required the treatment of sewage discharged to the sea, it has led to a continually improving trend in reduced microbial levels in UK bathing waters.

However the cost has been high. In Wales alone some £650 million has been spent between 1995 and 2000, resulting in the proportion of waste water receiving treatment rising from around 50% in 1995 to 98% by 2002.

Green Sea
But improved waste water treatment does not provide the complete answer to bathing water microbial contamination. So from 1995 to 2000 I was Welsh Water's Project Manager for Green Sea, the innovative Welsh partnership, which has played a major part in the dramatic improvement in bathing water quality in Wales.

Launched by the Secretary of State for Wales on 1 May 1996 Green Sea is a partnership of organisations committed to working together on a programme of practical action to transform the quality of the sea and coast of Wales. Chaired by the Wales Tourist Board, the Green Sea Forum consists of a wide variety of groups including Dwr Cymru, Local Authorities, the Environment Agency Wales, the Countryside Council for Wales, Keep Wales Tidy, the Marine Conservation Society, Surfers Against Sewage and many more.

In 1994, the year before Green Sea action began, only 21% of identified Welsh bathing waters reached the Bathing Water Directive guideline standard and the following year there were only 2 Blue Flags awarded to Welsh beaches. By 1999 56% of beaches reached the guideline standard, the best-ever for any Environment Agency region, and over 50 Blue Flags (including Marinas and the new Green Coast Award) had been applied for.

Centre for Research into Environment and Health (CREH)
I am a Senior Research Fellow with CREH. Led by Prof David Kay this is a centre of excellence for research and projects relating to the sources of microbial contamination of bathing and other recreational waters and the effects of such contamination on health. In association with CREH I worked on the following contracts

2000. Recommendations for interim and long term Certificate conditions for Bellozanne Waste Water Treatment Works, Jersey.

2002-2003 Water Quality Objectives And Water Catchment Management on the Island of Jersey

Other consultancy work

2001 Treatment Of Bathing Water Guideline Standards In EU Member States. Report for DETR on the reasons behind the high level of compliance with guideline standards in EU states including Denmark and Germany. In collaboration with Conlan Consulting.

Consultancy Advice
Norman Lowe Enviro Consulting can provide advice on