Greek Bathing Water Profiles Registry

Ensuring the highest quality of bathing waters is a top priority for Greece. On the basis of the criteria set up by National and Community legislation, Greece has to show excellent results, with the quality of its bathing waters ranking among the best 2-3 in Europe.

Until now the regulatory concept, at both national and Community levels, was based on a parametric approach, with the periodic monitoring and evaluation of specific microbiological parameters in bathing waters, being the only method for documenting the suitability of water for bathing. The overall characteristics of the catchment area draining to the bathing waters, in terms of pressures with a potential negative impact on water quality, were not taken into consideration.

This restriction is remedied by the Register of Bathing Water Profiles, applied in the case of Greece to approximately 1,700 beaches across the country, a Register prepared by the Special Secretariat for Water of the Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change. The aim of the Register is to describe and present the basic characteristics of the coasts, identify the pollution sources that may affect water quality and assess the magnitude of the effects. The Register serves also as a guide for selecting appropriate measures in order to minimise the impact of pressures in bathing waters and allows for a more efficient management of resources.

This interactive website, related to the Registry, aims not only at informing the public regarding the bathing water quality and the appropriate measures taken but also in accommodating comments and responses by the website visitors.