Bathing at a number of beaches may pose a health hazard although the majority of swimming spots in the Republic are safe, according to a report by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Beaches at Ardmore, Co Waterford, and Clifden, Co Galway, failed to meet the EU minimum mandatory requirements for total coliforms and faecal coliforms. Dunmore East, Co Waterford, which failed in 1999, complied in 2000.
Bathing areas at Dollymount Strand, Portmarnock, Portrane and Sutton, Co Dublin, tested positive for salmonella. Of the 130 sites tested, nine were freshwater and 121 seawater.
Tests for salmonella were carried out at 23 seawater sites only. Bathing waters were generally of a high standard during the 2000 season, according to the EPA's annual report, "The Quality of Bathing Water", published yesterday.
All but two of the 130 bathing areas (98.5 per cent) complied with the minimum EU standards for total coliforms, faecal coliforms, mineral oils, surface active agents and phenols. Faecal coliforms indicate pollution, usually human or animal sewage. The other indicators are the presence of industrial pollutants.
Stricter EU values were met by 119 of the areas (91.5 per cent). This is a slight improvement over the 1999 figure (89 per cent).
Additional national limit standards for total and faecal coliforms were met by 120 of the 121 seawater bathing areas, with Clifden, Co Galway, failing to meet the standard.
Of 81 areas tested, 75 complied with the specified values for dissolved oxygen and 85.8 per cent complied with the national limit value for faecal streptococci.
Dr Micheal Lehane, senior scientific officer with the EPA, said: "While the EPA is satisfied with the overall levels of compliance with the EU minimum standards, we are disappointed to see Ardmore fail to meet the standards for a second year running. There is a clear message here for the local authorities responsible for Clifden and Ardmore - the management issues at the beach must be addressed. "Within a European context, Ireland's bathing water compares very favourably, and is consistently near the top of the EU bathing water quality league table," said Dr Lehane.
Water samples are taken at sites which have a large number of bathers. These must be sampled every two weeks between mid-May and the end of August. There is increased sampling if a deterioration is suspected or observed.
Local authorities are responsible for bathing water quality in their area. Analysis under the EU directive is separate from, although complementary to, the European Blue Flag Scheme, administered in Ireland by An Taisce.
A spokesman for the Friends of the Irish Environment said there was no reason a single beach should be polluted. "It's human intervention that's causing the failure. Untreated sewage is being discharged into our rivers and lakes. This has to stop."