Bathing water quality

The Syndicat Mixte de Gestion des Baignades landaises was formed to conduct all operations to monitor swimming water quality at the beaches and lakes of its member towns.

The monitoring of swimming water quality focuses on four points:

1. Drafting and updating swimming water profiles

Since 18 September 2008, new regulations have been introduced to manage swimming water quality. Decree No. 2008-990 requires a swimming water profile for all swimming areas registered at the Prefecture. + find out more

2. Ensuring consistency in the monitoring strategy in line with swimming water profiles

Swimming water profiles help to adjust strategies to manage swimming water quality, especially by improving self-inspection schemes. + find out more

3. Applying for certification of the system to manage swimming water quality in the Landes region

Certification is based on a benchmark drafted by the Association Nationale des Elus du Littoral (ANEL), the Association Nationale des Mayors des Stations Classées and des Towns Touristiques (ANMSCCT) with the support of the French Ministries in charge de l’Ecologie (MEEDDAT), health (MSS) and in collaboration with French Ministries for Tourism and the Interior. The aim is to promote the initiatives implemented by the SMGBL and member towns in the past years.

4. All initiatives to communicate on swimming water quality

This initiative aims to inform the public and towns as fully as possible regarding the managing of swimming water quality. This information includes current regulations and practical information on the issue. This initiative involves setting up a website and collaboration with various stakeholderes, especially the Comité Départemental du Tourisme.

Swimming water is analysed from 1 July to 31 August at the Mont-de-Marsan site of the Laboratoires des Pyrénées et des Landes for self-assessment commissioned by the town and the SMGBL.

Registers and testing details may be viewed at the town hall.

5. Monitoring and Quality Control of Bathing Water

The quality of bathing water is monitored as soon as the beaches open for supervised swimming.

Health inspections carried out by the Regional Health Agency (ARS) include a quality check of bathing water 10 to 20 days before the start of the official supervision period, in order to certify that the water is safe. After that, testing is conducted once a month during the off-season, and every 15 days from June 15 to September 15 (bathing season) on ocean beaches rated as having “excellent” water quality. For ocean beaches rated as having “good” quality, testing is conducted weekly.

For lake beaches, monitoring takes place from July 1 to August 31 (bathing season), every 15 days for areas rated “excellent” and weekly for those rated “good.”

On ocean beaches, the monitoring focuses on bacteriological parameters (Escherichia coli and enterococci). On lake beaches at risk for cyanobacteria, additional monitoring is carried out for cyanobacteria biovolume and cyanotoxins, particularly in the event of blooms.

In parallel, local authorities under the SMGBL (Syndicat Mixte de Gestion des Baignades Landaises) conduct regular monitoring during the peak season (July 1 to August 31). This follow-up is based on the same parameters as the health control inspections and can be activated at any time if needed.