Signs and symbols for Article 12(1)(a) of the Revised Bathing Water Directive (2006/7/EC) Alison Conway Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) UK Signs & Symbols Workshop, San Rossore, Pisa 11-12 June 2007

Article 12(1)(a) signs and symbols Article 12(1)(a) says that we need to display: - the current bathing water classification, and - any bathing prohibition or advice against bathing … by means of a clear and simple sign or symbol

Clear and simple

and not confusing…

or complicated…

and we don’t want to scare bathers!

Current water quality classification

Water quality classification For consistency, we should build on current systems in use in Europe and internationally Need to consider disability issues, such as colour blindness Other issues e.g. language Two main decisions to make for the classification symbol: What design to use What colours to use for poor, sufficient, good and excellent

Smiley face POOR SUFFICIENT GOOD EXCELLENT Why? Easily understood by the public e.g. a happy face means ‘good’, a sad face is ‘bad’ or ‘poor’ Already in use to display water quality information e.g. Scotland, Belgium, Czech Republic Faces can be distinguished because of different colours and expressions. Red, amber, green – recognisable, similar to traffic light system. Poor = red (danger, stop) Excellent = blue, compatible with Blue Flag

Swimming man POOR SUFFICIENT GOOD EXCELLENT

Standing man POOR SUFFICIENT GOOD EXCELLENT

Water droplet POOR SUFFICIENT GOOD EXCELLENT

Water droplet – alternative colours POOR SUFFICIENT GOOD EXCELLENT

Water droplet – alternative colours POOR SUFFICIENT GOOD EXCELLENT

Permanent/temporary bathing prohibition Advise against bathing Water droplet Bathing water closed Permanent/temporary bathing prohibition Advise against bathing

Water droplet – different numbers POOR SUFFICIENT GOOD EXCELLENT

Ideas for consideration Smiley face Water droplet Swimming man Standing man

Bathing prohibition or advice against bathing We want to build on current systems Standard international (ISO) signs may be appropriate Potential to incorporate warning flags into the system

Bathing prohibition ISO symbol has been developed for ‘Do not swim’ In common use (even if not always in standard format) Widely understood by the public Is its meaning too strong for advice against bathing?

Advice against bathing An additional symbol may be needed to advise against bathing Black/yellow triangle alerts people to a hazard or danger that may cause harm Where possible, the hazard is shown by a clear image If not possible, an exclamation mark is used with additional wording underneath If advising against bathing, the hazard is likely to be poor water quality But this is a difficult concept to show in a simple image ISO signage experts couldn’t think of a suitable alternative! It’s difficult because: You can’t SEE water quality Different sources of pollution - it can’t be represented by one symbol Ideas included a test tube (no general understanding), sewer outfall (not suitable for diffuse pollution etc)

Beware of…..poor water quality Designing a symbol isn’t that easy!

Proposal using existing symbols Do not swim Bathing prohibition Advice against bathing ISO signage experts couldn’t think of a suitable alternative! It’s difficult because: You can’t SEE water quality Different sources of pollution - it can’t be represented by one symbol Ideas included a test tube (no general understanding), sewer outfall (not suitable for diffuse pollution etc) Poor Water Quality Poor Water Quality Bathing not advised

Red flag and bathing water quality On lifeguarded beaches, the red flag means danger and is used to warn bathers not to enter the water Its message is widely understood It could be used on the beach to reinforce the ‘do not swim’ symbol when bathing is prohibited Danger: do not enter the water

Can we do better than this?