All of the designated bathing areas within the following six local authority areas complied fully with the EU guide and mandatory standards: Donegal County Council, Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown County Council, Galway City Council, Kerry County Council, Mayo County Council and Westmeath County Council.

In the context of the new Bathing Water Regulations 2008 (SI No. 79 of 2008), the EPA will continue to encourage local authorities to identify additional bathing areas in the coming years.

The quality of Ireland’s bathing waters remains good, with 97% of designated bathing sites meeting the EU Mandatory standards. This is according to findings released today by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in their report entitled The Quality of Bathing Water in Ireland – A Report for the Year 2007. Whilst compliance with the minimum EU Mandatory Standards remained the same as in 2006, there was, however, a decrease in the number of bathing areas complying with the stricter EU Guide values. This was due, in general, to the higher than usual rainfall that occurred during the 2007 bathing season, which would have the effect of, among other things, causing increased discharges that would impact on bathing areas.

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