Environmental Health
Public Health
Bathing Water Quality
River and sea water quality is the responsibility of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA)
who are located in Ayr Tel. 01292 294000. There are designated bathing beaches at
Troon South Beach, Prestwick Beach, Ayr South Beach, Turnberry Beach and Girvan
Beach, where SEPA samples seawater at least once a fortnight from June to September
In addition, samples of seawater are taken from amenity beaches in Barassie, Heads
of Ayr, Culzean, Croy and Maidens.
Environmental Health publishes the results on display boards at the above locations
as they are received from SEPA. Two sample failures mean that the beach has failed
for the season.
In March 2006 the revised Bathing Water Directive (2006/7/EC) came into force. This
was enacted in the UK by the Bathing Waters (Scotland) Regulations 2008 which came
into effect in May 2008. Key features include increased provision of public information,
tighter microbiological standards to be met by 2015 and monitoring to be commenced
by 2012.
Bathing water results are displayed at the various beaches or can be viewed at the
SEPA website.
If you wish to report any contamination on the beaches or in the water please contact
us.