Further steps to improve the water quality at beaches in Dunmore East and Ardmore were promised yesterday by Waterford County Council after the European Commission's annual survey of bathing water safety was published.
The beach at Ardmore and the main strand at Dunmore East were the only two in the State which failed to meet EU minimum standards during the 1999 bathing season.
The minimum standard reflects an index combining levels of microbiological or faecal pollution and so-called aesthetic parameters (does the water look attractive enough to swim in?)
But, overall, 89.7 per cent of the 121 Irish beaches sampled not only met minimum requirements but exceeded voluntary guideline levels, an increase of 9.5 percentage points on the year.
Waterford County Council said a number of measures had already been taken in relation to Ardmore and Dunmore East beaches and more would follow. It pointed out that the Ardmore beach had failed just one test, in August, which was the result of a sewage pump failure. Dunmore East had had two "bad results", both last May, but had met the minimum standard in each test since.
Dr Micheal Lehane, senior scientific officer with the Environmental Protection Agency, said he was particularly disappointed with the situation at Dunmore East as it was the third year in succession that the main strand had failed to meet the minimum standard.
However, Mr Eamonn Mansfield, a senior executive engineer with Waterford County Council, said much had been done to improve the situation. The council had begun chlorinating a stream which carried pollution into the bathing area and had served Section 12 notices under the Water Pollution Act to farmers to prevent them allowing cattle to drink from the stream.
He said it was possible there had also been an overflow from the village's sewage treatment works, but this had not been established. Ardmore and Dunmore East are among eight centres in the State which are getting new sewage treatment plants. These should be in place within two years.
A council spokesman said chlorination of the stream had not started when the beach failed two tests last May. Mr Mansfield said the nature and extent of the pollution in the stream varied and it was difficult to pinpoint its source.
A second beach at Dunmore East, close to the main strand, had Blue Flag status, he pointed out.
Tourism interests in the village are concerned about the continuing failure of the main strand to meet the minimum standard, but say they have been assured by the council that everything possible is being done.
The Commission survey records particular success in the Dublin Fingal area, where five out of nine beaches improved their standing during the year, from minimum to guideline levels: Donabate, Loughshinny, Malahide, Rush south beach and Sutton Burrow beach.
In Donegal, Rathmullan and Lady's Bay improved on the year. The same was true of Fountainstown, Cork, and Garretstown, Galway; An Cnoc, Inverin; Na Forbacha, Laytown, Co Meath; and Bray beach, Co Wicklow.
The beach at Old Head, Louisburgh, Co Mayo, disimproved, as did Ardmore and Bonmahon in Waterford.
Dublin Corporation's three beaches - Dollymount, Merrion and Sandymount strands - again all reached minimum standards. None of the nine freshwater bathing places sampled failed to meet minimum standards, with only one not meeting the higher guideline levels.
The Commission records a steady decline from 1992 in the percentage of Irish beaches which do not meet minimum legal standards - from 5.6 per cent to 1.7 per cent.
The commission's annual report is distinct from the Blue Flags scheme, which also rewards beaches for their safety and facilities.