Monitoring bathing waters

Monitoring bathing waters was published in 1999 during a pivotal period for international public health policy. Authored by Jamie Bartram, a prominent figure in water and sanitation research, the work was developed to provide a standardized, science-based framework for assessing the quality of recreational water. It emerged as a response to the growing global need for consistent monitoring practices to protect public health from waterborne pathogens and chemical hazards.

The text was designed as a technical guide for policymakers, environmental scientists, and public health officials tasked with managing coastal and inland bathing sites. Bartram collaborated with a multidisciplinary team of experts to synthesize complex epidemiological and microbiological data into a practical manual. Upon its release by E&FN Spon, it was well-received within academic and governmental circles for its rigorous methodology, eventually becoming a foundational reference for the World Health Organization's subsequent guidelines on safe recreational water environments.