Waterford County Council and Waterford Tourism have expressed disappointment with the findings of the EPA's report on quality of bathing water in Ireland. It found Ardmore's bathing water had failed to meet the minimum EU standards for the second year in a row.
A Waterford County Council spokesman, Mr Peter Carey, said 13 water samples were taken at Ardmore beach between May and August last year, and 12 of these were within the EU standards.
One sample taken on August 1st last year did not meet these standards, he said, because a temporary fault in the sewage pump could have led to a discharge near the bathing area; or heavy rainfall and easterly winds could be forcing discharges towards the bathing area.
Mr Carey said the county council was satisfied that the bathing water at Ardmore was of good quality. The council hopes to construct a new sewerage scheme for Ardmore in 2002.
The secretary of Clifden Chamber of Commerce, in Co Galway, Mr Kevin Barry, said the chamber had campaigned for years for a proper sewage system for the town, which has an expanding population. Some £7 million had now been approved for a scheme which would bring the sewage pipe away from the beach area, he said.