Natural Resources Wales monitors bathing water sites under the EC Bathing Waters Directive. Samples for Escherichia coli and intestinal enterococci are taken throughout the bathing season from May to September. A classification of bathing water quality, generally based on 4 years of sample results, is produced for each site at the end of each season.
Use Cases
- Assess compliance with EU bathing water standards based on Escherichia coli and intestinal enterococci measurements.
- Analyze seasonal water quality trends for designated beaches based on data collected from May to September.
- Model long-term water quality classifications based on the 4-year assessment period mentioned in the description.
- Compare bacterial contamination levels across different bathing water sites in Wales.
Strengths
- Monitoring follows a standardized EU directive (2006/7/EC), suggesting consistent methodology.
- Data collection covers the entire bathing season from May to September.
- Classifications are based on a multi-year assessment period, typically 4 years of sample results.
Limitations
- Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
- Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
- Last update date is unknown; freshness unverified.
Provenance
- Source
- Natural Resources Wales (NRW)
- Collection Method
- Samples taken and analyzed for Escherichia coli and intestinal enterococci throughout the bathing season.
- Time Range
- Bathing season from May to September annually; classifications based on a 4-year rolling period.
- Freshness
- null
- Geography
- Designated bathing water sites in Wales.