9 in 10 beaches are clean out of 21,400 EU beaches monitored. Blink went on location with Manu and Geof to check whether their favourite beach is clean.
Keywords: Holidays, Water, Sea, Bathing, River, Pollution, Environment

W for Water

https://api.multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/documents/20125/14956740/j002-0050-en.srt

Like millions of Europeans,   you may be going to the seaside.

So?   - So, Geoff, we'd better join Manu

to see if the water at his beach is clean.

to give us a report on the quality   of bathing water. Let's go!

Maybe you've already   put a toe in the water like Manu,

but is the water   at your favourite beach clean?

It can be polluted with chemicals, or,   worse, with germs that you find in poo.

To find out, Manu's going to   the regional laboratory for bathing water.

Don't panic.   If your holiday destination is in the EU,

At least 21,000 beaches on coasts   and along rivers have been monitored.

With the new EU bathing water law,   checks will be even stricter.

In Biarritz, for example,   bathing water is no joke.

Each morning, a swimmer   takes a sample at every beach

and the water is analysed   here in this laboratory.

You take 100 millilitres of water   and filter it to find all the bacteria,

These bacteria are tested   in a series of machines

in the aim of finding the elements   that pollute water.

The water is good   and conforms to the regulations.

The water was analysed   in just three hours.

and if the water sample passes   all the tests - bingo - you can swim.

OK, but how do I know   if the water on our beach is good?

The new EU law wants citizens   to be better informed.

When the flag is red, bathing is forbidden   due to rough seas or risk of pollution.

When the flag is blue, you may swim.   The beach is patrolled by lifeguards,

the sea is calm and the water is clean.   It's simple.

And it's better than Geoff's phoney test.

To find out if your beach is acceptable,

you can type "bathing water data viewer"   on the internet.

You'll go to the European   Environment Agency's site.

In a few clicks, you can see   your beach's water quality.

Good news! Nine out of ten beaches   are clean. Enjoy your holidays!