Beach quality

I see from today’s copy of Ezasegagasini Metro (July 25, 2008), the council mouthpiece which accompanied the Mercury, that noticeboards are going to be put up on all beaches informing visitors of the state of the state of the seawater, what facilities are available and how clean the beach is. A new method of testing the seawater for faecal contamination is to be used and, while I don’t understand the difference in testing methodology, it is different to that used in the internationally recognised Blue Flag beach programme. Like I say, I don’t understand the full implications of all this but it does sound like a school test being dumbed-down until the kids can pass.