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Blue Flag Beach Criteria 2012 - Blue Flag Canada
(I) Imperative Criteria– beach must comply
(G) Guideline Criteria– encouraged to increase the standards at the beach but not mandatory
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND INFORMATION
1. Information about the Blue Flag program must be displayed (I)
2. A minimum of 5 environmental education activities must be offered and displayed (I)
3. Information about bathing water quality must be displayed (I)
4. Information relating to local ecosystems and environmental phenomena must be displayed (I)
5. A map of the beach must be displayed (I)
6. Code of conduct for the beach area must be displayed and the laws governing beach use must be easily available to the public upon request (I)
WATER QUALITY
7. The beach must fully comply with water quality sampling and frequency guidelines (I)
8. The beach must fully comply with standards and requirements for water quality analysis (I)
9. No industrial or sewage related discharges may affect the beach area (I)
10. The beach must comply with the Blue Flag requirements for microbiological parameter faecal coli bacteria (E.coli) and intestinal enterococci/streptococci (I)
11. The beach must comply with the Blue Flag standards for the following physical and chemical parameters (I):
•The pH value range is normally 6 to 9.
•There must be no oil film visible on the surface of the water and no odour detected. On land the beach must be monitored for oil and emergency plans should include the required action to take in case of such pollution.
•There has to be an absence of floatables such as tarry residues, wood, plastic articles, bottles, containers, glass or any other substance.
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
12. The local authorities shall establish a beach management committee (G)
13. The local authorities must comply with all regulations affecting the location and operation of the beach (I)
14. The beach must be clean (I)
15. Algae vegetation or natural debris should be left on the beach unless it becomes a hazard (I)
16. Waste disposal bins/receptacles must be available on/by the beach in adequate numbers, regularly maintained and emptied (I)
17. Facilities for receiving recyclable waste materials must be available on/by the beach
(I)
18. An adequate number of toilet or restroom facilities must be provided (I)
19. The toilet or restroom facilities must be kept clean (I)
20. The toilet or restroom facilities must have controlled sewage disposal (I)
21. On the beach there will be no unauthorized camping or driving and no dumping (I)
22. Access to the beach by dogs or other domestic animals must be strictly enforced (I)
23. All buildings and equipment of the beach must be properly maintained (I)
24. Coral reefs in the vicinity of the beach must be monitored (G)
25. A sustainable means of transportation should be promoted in the beach area (G)
SAFETY AND SERVICES
26. An adequate number of lifeguards and/or lifesaving equipment must be available at the beach (I)
27. First aid equipment must be available on the beach (I)
28. Emergency plans to cope with pollution must be in place (I)
29. There must be management of different users and uses of the beach so as to prevent conflicts and accidents (I)
30. There must be safe access to the beach (I)
31. The beach area must be patrolled
(G - South & East Africa, Brazil, Chile, South Pacific, Morocco; Not applicable – Europe, Canada, Oceania)
32. A supply of drinking water must be available on the beach (G)
33. A minimum of one Blue Flag beach in each municipality must have access and toilet facilities provided for disabled persons(I)
Download the 2012 Beach Criteria and Explanatory Notes in PDF format.
2012 WATER QUALITY GUIDELINES
Download the Ontario Water Quality Guidelines 2012 in PDF Format
Download the Manitoba and BC Water Quality Guidelines 2012 in PDF Format
Download the Nova Scotia Water Quality Guidelines 2012 in PDF Format
Download the 95th Percentile Calculation Sheet Coastal Waters 2012 in XLS Format
Download the 95th Percentile Calculation Sheet Inland Waters 2012 in XLS Format
