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Nutrient and chemical pollution

Nutrient and chemical pollution due to agricultural run-off and insufficient waste water treatment can cause a number of environmental impacts on bathing waters, potentially making them unsafe for public use. Nutrient pollution can cause excessive algae growth and eutrophic blooms of toxic cyanobacteria. Other substances such as heavy metals can enter bathing waters from both natural and anthropogenic sources and be deposited on their coasts and banks. These can originate from either diffuse (non-point) sources, such as runoff from land, or point sources such as industrial outfall or natural springs containing high concentrations of mercury.

The positive impacts of the wide-ranging and collaborative measures that have been supported by the BWD since 1976 represent a major positive step for environmental policy and management in Europe. However, the task is not accomplished yet. Whilst environmental managers continue to deal with the key issues above, emerging challenges such as climate change and plastic pollution are increasing the complexity of bathing water management.