EnviroKids 38 Marine & Blue Flag Summer 2017

Clean water... healthy swimming Blue Flag beachesmust have clean seawater that is not a health risk to swimmers. If the water becomes polluted, the blue flag is taken down and the beach is closed for swimming until the water is clean again. Beach managers must have the sea- water tested regularly by an independent laboratory, and display the results on a noticeboard.

TESTING FOR SEAWATER QUALITY

1 Collecting water samples A water-laboratory technician collects samples from the surface of the sea and at a depth of about 30 centimetres in the swimming zone.

2 Testing at the laboratory The water is tested for industrial

4 Informing beach visitors You can check the water’s health by looking at the Water Quality Standards on the information boards at Blue Flag beaches. means water samples have passed the water quality test means water is unhealthy for swimming

pollution and two kinds of harmful

bacteria. The bacteria come from human faeces (poo) in sewage water that was released into rivers or directly into the ocean. The harmful bacteria can cause stomach sicknesses and infectious diseases.

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3 Reporting

the results Each month, the water results are sent to the Blue Flag operator, who checks that the water quality meets the World Health Organisation’s standards. If the bacterial count is found to be dangerously high, or harmful chemicals are detected, the blue flag is lowered and the beach is closed for swimming until the water is clean again.

beach this summer Visit a Blue Flag

and enjoy safe and

healthy swimming!

Photo © Anafoto/Dreamstime

8 EnviroKids Vol. 38(4), Summer 2017

Words Roberta Griffiths, Art Jacci Rudling