ENVIRONMENTAL officials have said improvements are being formulated to help 17 Scottish beaches rated as "poor" for water quality by the European Union (EU).
A total of 84 beaches in Scotland are officially designated as bathing waters and 17 have been classed as excellent, including Dornoch, Largs, Achmelvich and Broughty Ferry.
READ MORE: We must go down to the seas again - 10 of the Scotland's best beaches
A further 38 are rated as good and 12 are classed as standard while 17 are rated as poor.
Among those which have been given poor ratings under new tighter EU water quality standards are Nairn, Stonehaven, Portobello, Prestwick and Yellowcraig.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) said improvement plans are being drawn up to help the beaches gain at least a sufficient rating by 2020.
Calum McPhail, Sepa environmental quality manager, said: "It is encouraging to see that the majority of Scotland's bathing waters are performing so well under the new directive which has introduced much stricter standards for bathing water quality.
"However, we understand that some local communities will be disappointed, as we are, that 17 bathing waters have been rated as having a 'poor' EU classification, and many will be concerned when the new classifications are displayed on these beaches for the first time this month.
READ MORE: We must go down to the seas again - 10 of the Scotland's best beaches
"It is important to remember that a 'poor' classification does not necessarily mean that water quality is continually poor, and in many cases this is due to historic episodes of reduced water quality following heavy rainfall.
READ MORE: We must go down to the seas again - 10 of the Scotland's best beaches
"These are still fantastic beaches to visit and our network of electronic information signs provide advice and details about any current water quality issues at the majority of these bathing waters."
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