Swimming areas get good report for water quality

According to a 2014 study by the Flemish Environment Agency (VMM), the water quality in 29 of the 42 participating swimming areas in Flanders is ‘excellent’. The 13 remaining zones also achieved an above satisfactory score, according to figures provided by environment minister Joke Schauvliege (CD&V) at the request of Flemish MP Wilfried Vandaele (N-VA), Knack.be reports.

VMM keeps a regular tab on the quality of coastal and inland bathing waters, and delivers an annual water quality report to the European Union.

The 29 swimming areas with ‘excellent’ water quality qualify for a Blue Flag label, a quality mark for harbours, beaches and swimming ponds, Vandaele explains. The label, which indicates that the swimming area scores well on water quality, environmental care and education and safety, is valid for one year.

In 2014 there were 17 Blue Flag swimming areas in Flanders: eight harbours and nine inland beaches. Due to dissatisfaction with the way the beaches were judged, the coastal municipalities jointly decided to not compete for the Blue Flag label last year.

"However, with the better quality of coastal waters on the one hand, and our improved method for assessing and reporting on the quality of the water on the other hand, perhaps now it would be easier for the beaches along the coast to get a Blue Flag,” says Vandaele.