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WATER QUALITY
- Compliance with requirements and standards
such as those of the EU Bathing Water Directive
- No industrial or sewage related discharges
may affect the beach area
- Local and/or regional emergency plans to cope
with pollution accidents
- No algal or other vegetation may accumulate
and be left to decay on the beach, except in areas designated
for a specific use and as long as this does not constitute a nuisance
- The community must be in compliance with requirements
for sewage treatment and effluent quality such as are contained
in the EU Urban Waste Water Directive (
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND INFORMATION
- Prompt public warning if the beach or part
thereof is expected to or has become grossly polluted or otherwise
unsafe. Procedures for issuing public warnings in such cases must
be covered by the emergency plan
- Information on natural sensitive areas in the
coastal zone, including its flora and fauna must be publicly displayed
and included in tourist information. The information must include
advice on how to behave in such areas
- The beach operator undertakes:
- to publicly display on the beach updated information about bathing
water quality in the form of a table or figure that can be easily
understood.
- to display as close to the Blue Flag as possible information
about the Blue Flag, including the aspects covered by the Blue
Flag and who is responsible at local and national level.
- to remove the Blue Flag if an imperative criteria is no longer
fulfilled
- The local community and the beach operator
should together be able to demonstrate that at least five environmental
education activities are offered
- Laws governing beach use must be easily available
to the public upon request, for example in tourist offices, the
town hall or on the beach. Code of conduct for the beach area
must be posted on the beach
- The local community has an Environmental Interpretation
Centre or similar permanent public environmental education place
dealing with the coastal environment. Such a centre may be a denoted
a Blue Flag Centre if it as a place to obtain information about
the Blue Flag and as a focal point for public environmental education
activities about the coast and sea
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
- The local community must have a land-use and
development plan for its coastal zone. This plan and the current
activities of the community in the coastal zone must be in compliance
with planning regulations and coastal zone protection regulations.
If the community is very small it may be part of a larger regional
plan
- Litter bins in adequate numbers, properly secured
and regularly maintained and emptied. Adequate provision for refuse,
algal matter and other pollutants collected at the beach. The
waste collected at the beach must be disposed of in a licensed
facility
- A daily beach clean during the bathing season
when necessary
- On the beach there will be no:
- driving unless specifically authorised
- beach bike or car races
- dumping
- unauthorised camping
Beaches on which cars are allowed must have designated areas on
the beach for parking, car-free zones and the waters edge must
always be kept entirely free from cars
- There must be safe access to the beach
- There must be management of different users
and uses of the beach so as to prevent conflicts and accidents.
If there are natural areas bordering the beach, steps must have
been taken to prevent negative impacts from the use of and traffic
to and from the beach and its waters
- The beach has facilities for receiving recyclable
waste materials, such as glass bottles and cans
- The local community is promoting sustainable
means of transportation in the beach area, such as bicycling,
walking and public transportation
- Adequate and clean sanitary facilities with
controlled sewage disposal conforming with the requirements of
the criteria concerning EU Urban Waste Water Directive
SAFETY AND SERVICES
- Beach guards are on duty during the bathing
season and/or there is adequate safety provisions, including lifesaving
equipment and directions for their use and immediate access to
a telephone. The lifesaving equipment must be of a type that is
approved by national lifesaving/-guarding bodies. It must include
instructions for use, must be permanently and immediately accessible
on the beach and be regularly checked for proper functioning.
Similarly, beach guards must be trained and accredited according
to national requirements established by authorities or professional
associations
- First aid must be available on the beach and
its location easily identified
- National laws concerning dogs, horses, and
other domestic animals must be strictly enforced on the beach.
Their access and activities must under all circumstances be controlled
- A shielded source of drinking water
- Easy and ready access to a telephone in cases
where the beachis not safeguarded by beach guards, the criteria
is imperative
- At least one of the municipality's beaches
must be equipped with access ramps to the beach and toilet facilities
for people with disabilities, except where the topography does
not allow for it. In cases where the municipality has only one
beach awarded with the Blue Flag, this beach must have access
and facilities for the disabled, except where the topography does
not allow for it
- All buildings and equipment of the beach must
be properly maintained
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