French Public Health Code
In force1° A bathing water is characterised by an area where the water is of uniform quality.
2° The bathing season defined for each bathing water is the period during which the presence of a large number of bathers is to be expected. When the bathing season extends over the whole year, it begins on 1st October and ends on 30th September.
3° A large number of bathers corresponds to an estimated high number of bathers, taking into account past trends or the infrastructures and services made available or any other measures taken to encourage bathing.
4° Pollution corresponds to the presence of:
-microbiological contamination with Escherichia coli, intestinal enterococci or pathogenic micro-organisms;
-or other organisms such as cyanobacteria, macro-algae or marine phytoplankton;
-or waste such as, in particular, tarry residues, glass, plastic or rubber,
affecting the quality of bathing water and presenting a risk to the health of bathers.
5° Short-term pollution is microbiological contamination relating to the parameters Escherichia coli or intestinal enterococci or pathogenic micro-organisms which has easily identifiable causes, which should not normally affect the quality of bathing water for more than approximately seventy-two hours from the time when the quality of this water began to be affected.
6° An abnormal situation is an event or combination of events affecting bathing water quality at a given location and generally occurring no more than once every four years on average.
7° Appropriate management measures in the event of pollution are measures to prevent bathers' exposure to pollution, to improve bathing water quality and to ensure the provision of regularly updated information to the public on bathing water quality and management. They are part of the obligations incumbent on the person responsible for the bathing water under the terms of article L. 1332-3.
