Analyzing microbial contaminants in water and wastewater: WHO-UNEP Consultation meeting on health-related monitoring of coastal waters: Analyzing microbial contaminants in water and wastewater

Following the release by WHO of the new guidelines for safe recreational-water environments in 2003, and the adoption by the European Parliament in 2006 of a new EC Directive, linked to the WHO Guidelines, the Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention agreed on a common methodology and standards for coastal waters.

Every Mediterranean country has now an operational monitoring programme, however financial constraints have limited development of such programmes in a number of countries. WHO has developed a methodology that allows the evaluation of the health risks related to sanitation in coastal areas. This methodology is a helpful tool to assist countries in implementing monitoring programmes for the safe use of the coastal areas.

Aims and objectives

This consultation gathers national experts to review the bathing waters quality profiles set up so far, to identify problems in their completion and to finalize the format for the elaboration of the remaining profiles. Specific objectives include the following.

• Review of WHO's guidelines for safe recreational water environments along with the EC Directive on the subject with emphasis on water quality profiles
• Review of the pilot and national projects on water quality profiles
• Application of the methodology for the evaluation of health risks in coastal areas
• Recommendations for the preparation of country evaluation of health risks in coastal Mediterranean areas related to sanitation, including capacity building.