A high level of bathing water quality is crucial for public health and the environment.

Under the EU Bathing Water Directive1 bathing waters must comply with mandatory values, while compliance with more stringent guide values is also encouraged. In addition, Malta is obliged to achieve bathing water quality standards under the Barcelona Convention (2). In 2008 Malta's bathing waters were 99 per cent compliant with EU bathing water standards, increasing by four percentage points between 2007 and 2008.

Compliance with the more stringent guide values also increased by four percentage points, reaching 94 per cent in 2008. In 2008 only one per cent of bathing sites were non-compliant with mandatory EU values, and all sites complied with the Barcelona Convention standards. Mepa policy responses in this area include the joint monitoring of bathing waters with the Environmental Health Department until 2008.

Policy responses: Under the new directive, which now concerns only biological monitoring, Mepa supports the Health Department in its work to ensure synergy with other environmental obligations.

The Environment Report seeks to increase awareness and understanding of key environmental issues and trends, to provide a sound evidence base for policy and decision-making, and to facilitate the measurement of environmental performance and progress towards sustainability. For more information visit www.mepa.org.mt/ter.

References
(1) Council Directive 2006/7/EC.
(2) Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment and the Coastal Region of the Mediterranean.