FOUR COASTAL locations in Cork, Dublin and Galway have been deemed to be unsafe for people to swim at, but the quality of bathing waters around Ireland remains good, with 97 per cent of designated bathing spots meeting the EU mandatory standards.
According to a new report by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Ireland’s recent good track record regarding minimum cleanliness of bathing water here still stands, but sea water in Clifden and Na Forbacha in Co Galway, Youghal in Co Cork and Balbriggan in north Dublin failed to pass the basic European assessment last year.
The public health risk attached to these areas was due mainly to the presence of traces of human/animal waste material in the water.
The EPA study, The Quality of Bathing Water in Ireland 2007, also showed that while compliance with the mandatory EU requirements remained the same as in 2006, there was a decrease in the number of bathing areas that adhered to the stricter EU guide values.
The EPA said this was reflective of the higher than usual rainfall last year.
A total of 131 designated bathing areas, comprising 122 sea water and nine freshwater sites, were monitored throughout the 2007 bathing season. Samples analysed were assessed according to two sets of EU markings, namely the minimum quality standards (EU mandatory values) and the more stringent quality targets (EU guide values).
Balbriggan failed to meet the mandatory standard due to the presence of human or animal effluent in the water and other forms of bacteria.
Clifden, Youghal and Na Forbacha had levels of faecal coliforms, said the EPA, adding: “Clifden has failed to meet the mandatory standards for three of the past five years, while Balbriggan has failed to meet the mandatory standard for four of the past five years.”
Fingal County Council had reported that sewage was discharged untreated to the sea two kilometres south of Balbriggan beach, and along with overflows from the pumping station nearby, contributed to the breach of standards.