Bathing network signals quality

The water quality advice will be seen on 10 beaches

A network of electronic water quality signs is being launched at a series of beaches across Scotland.

It follows a successful trial by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, run over the past two summers.

The signs will provide real-time quality forecasts, covering the bathing season from 1 June to 15 September.

The beaches involved are Aberdeen, Portobello Central, Brighouse Bay, Sandyhills, Ayr, Troon, Prestwick, Irvine, Saltcoats and Ettrick Bay.

Sepa said the scheme means Scotland is leading Europe in developments to advise the public about beach water quality.

Let's see more people using this service to their advantage Calum McPhail Sepa

The pilot, run in partnership with the Scottish Executive, proved to be 98% accurate in predicting quality.

The signs are backed up by Sepa website alerts and a recorded information hotline.

While the pass rate of Scotland's bathing waters against standards imposed by the European Bathing Water Directive has increased from 48% in 1998 to 93% in 2005, heavy rainfall can still lead to pollution being washed into bathing catchment areas.

Sepa's Calum McPhail said: "We are taking the lead in Europe in terms of providing a national signage network of this kind.

"People won't see a network of information like this anywhere else in Europe so let's see more people using this service to their advantage and enjoying all that Scotland's beaches have to offer."

The beach quality information line is 0845 2303098.