Bathing water quality

Bathing waters are monitored around the island at 19 locations for Escherichia coli (E.coli) and Intestinal Enterococci during the bathing season (1 May to 18 September). The monitoring for E.coli and Intestinal Enterococci are a requirement under the Water Pollution (Bathing Water Standards and Objectives) Scheme 2021 which is the same as the EU 2006 Bathing Water Directive.

Bathing water sampling is undertaken by the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture on a weekly basis for designated bathing waters and 4 weekly for non-designated bathing waters. The bathing season is defined as a 20 week period from the 1 May to 18 September. All sampling is carried out in accordance with the Water Pollution (Bathing Water Standards and Objectives) Scheme 2021. The standards included in the scheme are designed for the protection of public health and all data is publish in the specific webpage.

The designated bathing waters which will be sampled on a weekly basis are;

Sampling at the designated bathing waters listed above will occur on the following dates. All data will be uploaded to the associated bathing water profile to be viewed.

Day	Sampling Date
Wednesday	1 May
Tuesday	7 May
Thursday	16 May
Monday	20 May
Thursday	30 May
Tuesday	4 June
Thursday	13 June
Monday	17 June
Tuesday	25 June
Wednesday	3 July
Thursday	11 July
Tuesday	16 July
Monday	22 July
Wednesday	31 July
Tuesday	6 August
Monday	12 August
Wednesday	21 August
Thursday	29 August
Monday	2 September
Wednesday	11 September
Tuesday	17 September

The non-designated bathing which will be sampled on a 4 weekly basis are;

Derbyhaven
Douglas Broadway
Douglas Summerhill
Fenella
Fishers Hill
Laxey
Peel
Port Grenaugh
Port Lewaigue
Port Skillion
Port Soderick

Please note that the non-designated locations in the list above have not been formally designated under the Water Pollution (Bathing Water Standards and Objectives) Scheme 2021 and therefore bathing water profiles and site specific signs have not been developed.

Sampling at the non-designated bathing waters listed above will occur on the following dates. The data from these samples will be uploaded to the ‘2024 Additional Bathing Water’ webpage.

Day	Sampling Date
Wednesday	8 May
Monday	3 June
Tuesday	2 July
Thursday	1 August
Wednesday	28 August
Monday	16 September

What can impact bathing water quality?

Bathing water quality can be impacted by any discharge or other release of untreated or only partially treated sewage to sea deposits large numbers of micro-organisms into the sea water, which have a significant influence on bathing water quality on beaches. The same is true of untreated water run-off from intensive land-based animal husbandry. These micro-organisms include bacteria and viruses, some of which can be pathogenic with the potential to cause diseases, skin irritations and gastro-enteritis. The most abundant organisms in sewage are, however, the non-pathogenic coliforms, the detection and quantification of which is the basis of the regular testing of bathing waters.

The Isle of Man's sewage system has been undergoing substantial modernisation in recent years, commencing with the major 'IRIS' scheme which has effectively dealt with human sewage from the southern half of the Island since 2005, and continuing with a programme of smaller treatment works in other locations which in due course should ensure that all sewage is adequately treated. Improvements in bathing water quality have been evident in the regular monitoring data as the modernisation has progressed. It is noted, however, that not all of the beaches in the affected areas meet the best standards all the time. This may be because human sewage is not the only source of bacterial contamination, however also possibly relevant is that any incorrect sewage connections to the surface water drainage system will circumvent sewage treatment, which may be of significance particularly in locations with a substantial volume of older property.

Related to this, the quality of bathing water is widely accepted as being affected by weather, with extended periods of sunny, dry weather yielding better water quality than very wet periods, due to the dual effects of ultraviolet light from the sun killing bacteria coupled with less land run-off entering the sea.

The location of the sampling beaches, proximity of sewage outfalls and levels of treatment given to the sewage can be seen as follows:

Sampling Location	National Grid Reference	Designation Status	Nearest Sewage Outfall	Treatment Level
Bay ny Carrickey	SC 2155 6865	Designated	Transferred to IRIS	Full
Castletown	SC 2734 6773	Designated	Transferred to IRIS	Full
Derbyhaven	SC 2866 6734	Non- designated	Transferred to IRIS	Full
Douglas Broadway	SC 3846 7631	Non- designated	Transferred to IRIS	Full
Douglas Central	SC 3884 7685	Designated	Transferred to IRIS	Full
Douglas Summerhill	SC 3925 7720	Non- designated	Transferred to IRIS	Full
Fenella	SC 2414 8444	Non- designated	750m round Island	None
Fishers Hill	SC 2396 6857	Non- designated	Transferred to IRIS	Full
Glen Wyllin	SC 3095 9063	Designated	900m North East	Full
Laxey	SC 4421 8356	Non- designated	300m North East	None
North Ramsey	SC 4528 9498	Designated	900m North	Full
Peel	SC 2439 8446	Non- designated	250m North East	None
Port Erin	SC 1942 6897	Designated	Transferred to IRIS	Full
Port Grenaugh	SC 3160 7051	Non- designated	None	N/A
Port Skillion	SC 3896 7482	Non- designated	Transferred to IRIS	Full
Port St Mary	SC 2120 6817	Designated	Transferred to IRIS	Full
Port Soderick	SC 3473 7267	Non- designated	None	N/A
South Ramsey	SC 4552 9453	Designated	1600m North	Full

For further information, please contact +44 1624 685885 or email environmentalprotection@gov.im