Meeting the water quality challenges 49. The revised Bathing
Water Directive significantly increases the water quality
standards which we need to meet. Four new classifications are
introduced - Excellent, good, sufficient, and poor, based on
concentrations of bacteria (intestinal enterococci and
Escherichia coli) found in the water. The good standard is
broadly equivalent to the existing guideline standard. 50.
Member States are required to ensure that by 2015 all bathing
waters are of at least sufficient standard, and that appropriate
measures are taken to increase the numbers of bathing waters
classified as excellent or good. Classification is based on four
years' worth of data, which means that results from 2012 onwards
will be used in the 2015 classification. 51. Applying data from
recent years against these criteria suggests that up to one-
third of currently designated bathing waters in Scotland might
be classified as poor. This is not only dependent on the quality
of the water, but also on whether or no