Bathing Water Quality in Ireland A report for the year 2019 ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY Monitoring, Analysing and Reporting on the The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is responsible for Environment protecting and improving the environment as a valuable asset • Monitoring air quality and implementing the EU Clean Air for for the people of Ireland. We are committed to protecting people Europe (CAFÉ) Directive. and the environment from the harmful effects of radiation and • Independent reporting to inform decision making by national pollution. and local government (e.g. periodic reporting on the State of Ireland’s Environment and Indicator Reports). The work of the EPA can be divided into three main areas: Regulating Ireland’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions • Preparing Ireland’s greenhouse gas inventories and projections. Regulation: We implement effective regulation and environmental • Implementing the Emissions Trading Directive, for over 100 of compliance systems to deliver good environmental outcomes and the largest producers of carbon dioxide in Ireland. target those who don’t comply.
Knowledge: We provide high quality, targeted and timely Environmental Research and Development environmental data, information and assessment to inform • Funding environmental research to identify pressures, inform decision making at all levels. policy and provide solutions in the areas of climate, water and sustainability. Advocacy: We work with others to advocate for a clean, productive and well protected environment and for sustainable Strategic Environmental Assessment environmental behaviour. • Assessing the impact of proposed plans and programmes on the Irish environment (e.g. major development plans). Our Responsibilities Radiological Protection Licensing • Monitoring radiation levels, assessing exposure of people in We regulate the following activities so that they do not endanger Ireland to ionising radiation. human health or harm the environment: • Assisting in developing national plans for emergencies arising • waste facilities (e.g. landfills, incinerators, waste transfer from nuclear accidents. stations); • Monitoring developments abroad relating to nuclear • large scale industrial activities (e.g. pharmaceutical, cement installations and radiological safety. manufacturing, power plants); • Providing, or overseeing the provision of, specialist radiation • intensive agriculture (e.g. pigs, poultry); protection services. • the contained use and controlled release of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs); Guidance, Accessible Information and Education • sources of ionising radiation (e.g. x-ray and radiotherapy • Providing advice and guidance to industry and the public on equipment, industrial sources); environmental and radiological protection topics. • large petrol storage facilities; • Providing timely and easily accessible environmental • waste water discharges; information to encourage public participation in environmental • dumping at sea activities. decision-making (e.g. My Local Environment, Radon Maps). • Advising Government on matters relating to radiological safety National Environmental Enforcement and emergency response. • Conducting an annual programme of audits and inspections of • Developing a National Hazardous Waste Management Plan to EPA licensed facilities. prevent and manage hazardous waste. • Overseeing local authorities’ environmental protection responsibilities. Awareness Raising and Behavioural Change • Supervising the supply of drinking water by public water • Generating greater environmental awareness and influencing suppliers. positive behavioural change by supporting businesses, • Working with local authorities and other agencies to tackle communities and householders to become more resource environmental crime by co-ordinating a national enforcement efficient. network, targeting offenders and overseeing remediation. • Promoting radon testing in homes and workplaces and • Enforcing Regulations such as Waste Electrical and Electronic encouraging remediation where necessary. Equipment (WEEE), Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) and substances that deplete the ozone layer. Management and structure of the EPA • Prosecuting those who flout environmental law and damage the The EPA is managed by a full time Board, consisting of a Director environment. General and five Directors. The work is carried out across five Offices: Water Management • Office of Environmental Sustainability • Monitoring and reporting on the quality of rivers, lakes, • Office of Environmental Enforcement transitional and coastal waters of Ireland and groundwaters; • Office of Evidence and Assessment measuring water levels and river flows. • Office of Radiation Protection and Environmental Monitoring • National coordination and oversight of the Water Framework • Office of Communications and Corporate Services Directive. The EPA is assisted by an Advisory Committee of twelve members • Monitoring and reporting on Bathing Water Quality. who meet regularly to discuss issues of concern and provide advice to the Board.
Bathing Water Quality in Ireland: A report for the year 2019
Environmental Protection Agency An Ghníomhaireacht um Chaomhnú Comhshaoil P.O. Box 3000, Johnstown Castle Estate, County Wexford, Ireland, Y35 W821
Phone: +353 53 916 0600 Email: [email protected] Website: www.epa.ie LoCall: 1890 33 55 99 © Environmental Protection Agency, 2020
Although we in the Environmental Protection Agency have tried our best to make sure this publication is accurate, we cannot guarantee complete accuracy. Neither
we nor the authors are in any way responsible for any loss or damage caused by, or claimed to have been caused by, anyone doing anything or failing to do anything based on information in this publication.
You may reproduce all or part of this publication without further permission, provided you acknowledge the source.
Cover photo: Curracloe beach, County Wexford. Photo: Paddy Morris
Published by the Environmental Protection Agency, Ireland
May 2020 ISBN: 978-1-84095-889-8 Environmental Protection Agency | Bathing Water
Quality in Ireland 2018
Contents Key findings for 2019 ...... 3
1: Introduction ...... 5 1.1: Who does what? ...... 5 1.2: Where can I check bathing water quality? ...... 6
2: Bathing water quality ...... 7 2.1: How is bathing water quality assessed? ...... 7 2.2: Bathing water quality in 2019 ...... 9 2.3: Changes in bathing water quality between 2018 and 2019 ...... 12
3: Pollution incidents ...... 13 3.1: Bathing water pollution incidents in 2019 ...... 13 3.2: Prior warnings ...... 15
4: Poor bathing waters ...... 17
5: Sufficient bathing waters ...... 22
6: Public participation and research ...... 24 6.1: What can be done to help? ...... 24 6.2: Research ...... 24
7: ‘Other’ monitored bathing waters ...... 28
8: Conclusions ...... 30
Glossary and background information ...... 31
Appendix A: Additional information on bathing water classifications ...... 34
Appendix B: Summary information for identified bathing waters ...... 35
Appendix C: Community and Public Initiatives ...... 39
Appendix D: Summary information for ‘other’ monitored bathing waters ...... 42
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List of figures
Figure 1: Bathing water quality in Ireland in 2019 ...... 9
Figure 2: Bathing water quality map of Ireland 2019 ...... 10
Figure 3: Likely causes of reported incidents in 2019 ...... 14
Figure 4: Duncannon Beach ...... 26
Figure 5: Bathing water quality ('other' monitored waters) Map of Ireland 2019 ...... 29
List of tables
Table 1: Changes in bathing water classifications between 2018 and 2019 ...... 12
Table 2: Pollution incidents in 2018 and 2019 ...... 14
Table 3: 'Prior warnings' in 2018 and 2019 ...... 16
Table 4: Poor bathing waters in 2018 and 2019 ...... 18
Table 5: Sufficient bathing waters in 2018 and 2019 ...... 22
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Quality in Ireland 2018 Key findings for 2019
• 95% of bathing waters met or exceeded the minimum required standard. • 89% of bathing waters were classified as Excellent or Good. Bathing • Five were classified as Poor: Merrion Strand, Ballyloughane Water Beach, Portrane (the Brook) Beach, Clifden Beach and Lilliput, quality Lough Ennell. in 2019 • Merrion Strand was classified as Poor for the last five years, 2015 to 2019, meaning it will be closed or ‘declassified’ as a bathing water in 2020.
• Bathing water quality improved overall and more bathing waters were identified. • 107 bathing waters were classified as Excellent in 2019, up 4 from the previous year. Changes • 24 bathing waters were classified as Good in 2019, up 2 from the since 2018 previous year. • 9 bathing waters were classified as Sufficient in 2019, down 3 from the previous year. • 147 bathing waters were identified in 2019, up 2 since 2018.
• Local authorities must prioritise measures to improve the Poor bathing waters to at least Sufficient. Actions • Local authorities should take action to increase the number of bathing waters classified as Good or Excellent. • Continued effort should be made to limit the impact of urban wastewater overflows and discharges on bathing waters. • Everyone can play their part by bringing their rubbish home, cleaning up after their dogs, and reporting pollution.
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Quality in Ireland 2018
1: Introduction This is a report about bathing water quality in Ireland during 2019. We have based our assessment on information local authorities have given us about the beaches that they manage. A glossary of terms about bathing waters is on page 36.
1.1: Who does what? Local authorities Local authorities are responsible for managing and monitoring bathing waters. They arrange for water samples to be taken and analysed throughout the bathing season and they maintain facilities. Local authorities report and investigate pollution events and carry out measures to reduce or remove any sources of pollution.
The EPA We in the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are the environmental regulator. We make sure that local authorities carry out their functions under the Bathing Water
Regulations.
The HSE The Health Service Executive (HSE) gives advice to local authorities on public and environmental health issues related to bathing water.
The public The public can make representations to their local authorities to identify new bathing waters. They can also help by keeping their local beaches clean.
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Quality in Ireland 2018 1.2: Where can I check bathing water quality? Our national bathing water website, www.beaches.ie, shares the latest information on more than 200 bathing waters sampled during the bathing water season. This website gives you information about:
• beaches near you • which beaches have safe water quality • the weather and tides • beach amenities.
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Quality in Ireland 2018
2: Bathing water quality
2.1: How is bathing water quality assessed? Local authorities take samples of bathing waters just before, and during the bathing water season. In Ireland, the season runs from the 1st June to 15th September each year.
Local authorities must take samples at least once a month. However, many local authorities sample once a fortnight, and even once a week in some areas.
When we classify the quality of the water at a beach or a lake, we base the classification on water testing results over four years, rather than just the past season’s information, or the information from the most recent sample taken.
Swimming in Ireland can be a year-round activity in some locations, however, for the purposes of assessing bathing water quality, we only use results from the bathing season. We classify water quality at our beaches and lakes as Excellent, Good, Sufficient or Poor.
There is more information on water classification in Appendix A.
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Excellent • The highest, cleanest class.
Good • Generally good water quality.
• The water quality meets the minimum Sufficient standard.
• The water quality has not met the Poor minimum standard.
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Quality in Ireland 2018
2.2: Bathing water quality in 2019 For the 2019 bathing season, we assessed 147 identified bathing waters. Of these, 140 (95%) met or exceeded the minimum required standard of Sufficient. Figure 1 summarises the bathing water quality for 2019. Figure 2 shows the locations of all identified bathing waters and their individual classifications.
• 107 (73%) of bathing waters were classified as Excellent, three of which were newly classified in 2019 • 24 (16%) were classified as Good • 9 (6%) were classified as Sufficient • 5 (4%) were classified as Poor • 2 (1%) bathing waters – Inchydoney East Beach and Cúas Crom, were new in 2019 and will be classified following the 2020 bathing season.
4% 1% 6%
Excellent 16% Good
Sufficient
Poor
New 73%
Figure 1: Bathing water quality in Ireland in 2019
Three bathing waters were classified for the first time, all in Dublin. They were Forty Foot Bathing Place, White Rock Beach (both Excellent) and Sandycove Beach (Good).
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Figure 2: Bathing water quality map of Ireland 2019
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Quality in Ireland 2018
Bathing Water Names
1 Shelling Hill/Templetown 50 Garretstown 99 Clare Island, Louisburgh 2 Port, Lurganboy 51 Coolmaine 100 Carrowmore Beach, Louisburgh 3 Clogherhead 52 Inchydoney 101 Old Head Beach, Louisburgh 4 Seapoint 53 Inchydoney East Beach 102 Bertra Beach, Murrisk 5 Laytown/Bettystown 54 Owenahincha, Little Island Strand 103 Mulranny Beach 6 Balbriggan, Front Strand Beach 55 Warren, Cregane Strand 104 Dooega Beach, Achill Island 7 Skerries, South Beach 56 Tragumna 105 Keel Beach, Achill Island 8 Loughshinny Beach 57 Barley Cove 106 Keem Beach, Achill Island 9 Rush, North Beach 58 Doire Fhíonáin (Derrynane) 107 Dugort Beach, Achill Island 10 Rush, South Beach 59 Trá na hUíne (Inny Strand, Waterville) 108 Golden Strand, Achill Island 11 Portrane, the Brook Beach 60 Baile an Sceilg (Ballinskelligs) 109 Mullaghroe Beach, Belmullet 12 Donabate, Balcarrick Beach 61 White Strand, Caherciveen 110 Elly Bay, Belmullet 13 Portmarnock, Velvet Strand Beach 62 Cúas Crom 111 Rinroe Beach, Carrowtigue 14 Sutton, Burrow Beach 63 Kells 112 Ross Beach, Killala 15 Claremont Beach 64 Rossbeigh, White Strand 113 Enniscrone Beach 16 Dollymount Strand 65 Inch 114 Dunmoran Beach 17 Sandymount Strand 66 Fionntrá (Ventry) 115 Rosses Point Beach 18 Merrion Strand 67 Maharabeg 116 Streedagh Beach 19 Seapoint 68 Castlegregory 117 Mullaghmore Beach 20 Sandycove Beach 69 Fenit 118 Bundoran 21 Forty Foot Bathing Place 70 Banna Strand 119 Rossnowlagh 22 White Rock Beach 71 Ballyheigue 120 Murvagh 23 Killiney 72 Ballybunnion South 121 Fintra 24 Bray South Promenade 73 Ballybunnion North 122 Naran 25 Greystones South 74 Cappagh Pier, Kilrush 123 Dooey 26 Silver Strand 75 Kilkee 124 Carrickfinn 27 Brittas Bay North 76 White Strand, Doonbeg 125 Portarthur, Derrybeg 28 Brittas Bay South 77 Seafield, Quilty 126 Magheraroarty 29 Clogga 78 Spanish Point 127 Drumnatinny 30 Ballymoney, North Beach 79 White Strand, Miltown Malbay 128 Killahoey 31 Courtown, North Beach 80 Lahinch 129 Portnablagh 32 Morriscastle 81 Trá Inis Oirr (Main Beach) 130 Marble Hill 33 Ballinesker 82 Cill Mhuirbhigh, Inis Mór 131 Downings 34 Curracloe 83 Fanore 132 Ballyhiernan, Fanad 35 Rosslare Strand 84 Bishopsquarter 133 Portsalon 36 Carne Beach 85 Traught, Kinvara 134 Rathmullan 37 Duncannon 86 Ballyloughane Beach 135 Lisfannon 38 Counsellors' Strand, Dunmore East 87 Grattan Road Beach 136 Lady's Bay, Buncrana 39 Dunmore Strand, Dunmore East 88 Salthill Beach 137 Culdaff 40 Tramore Beach 89 Silverstrand Beach 138 Stroove 41 Bunmahon Beach 90 Trá na bhForbacha, Na Forbacha 139 Keeldra Lough 42 Clonea Beach 91 Trá na mBan, An Spidéal 140 The Cut, Lough Lene 43 Ardmore Beach 92 Céibh an Spidéil 141 Portnashangan, Lough Owel 44 Youghal Front Strand Beach 93 An Trá Mór, Coill Rua, Indreabhán 142 Lilliput, Lough Ennel 45 Youghal, Claycastle 94 Trá an Dóilín, An Ceathrú Rua 143 Loughrea Lake 46 Redbarn 95 Trá Chaladh Fínis, Carna 144 Bathing Place at Portumna 47 Garryvoe 96 Goirtín, Cloch na Rón 145 Mountshannon, Lough Derg 48 Fountainstown 97 Clifden Beach 146 Ballycuggeran 49 Garrylucas, White Strand 98 Carrowniskey, Louisburgh 147 Ballyallia Lake, Ennis
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Quality in Ireland 2018
2.3: Changes in bathing water quality between 2018 and 2019 Overall, bathing water quality has continued to improve in 2019. Some 140 bathing waters met the minimum required standard of Sufficient in 2019, up from 137 in 2018.
See Appendix B for classifications for all 147 identified bathing waters for the four year period from 2016 to 2019.
Table 1 below shows the changes in bathing water quality between 2018 and 2019.
• 107 bathing waters were classified as Excellent in 2019, up from 103 in 2018. • 5 bathing waters improved from Good in 2018 to Excellent in 2019, while 3 bathing waters dropped from Excellent in 2018 to Good in 2019. • 24 bathing waters were classified as Good in 2019, up from 22 in 2018. • 9 bathing waters were classified as Sufficient in 2019, down from 12 in 2018.5 bathing waters were classified as Poor in both 2018 and 2019, with 4 of those being Poor in both years.
Table 1: Changes in bathing water classification between 2018 and 2019
Classification Number of Number of Difference bathing bathing waters waters in 2018 in 2019
Excellent 103 107 +4
Good 22 24 +2
Sufficient 12 9 -3
Poor 5 5 0
New 3 2 -1
Total 145 147 +2
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Quality in Ireland 2018 3: Pollution incidents During the bathing water season, restrictions may be put in place at the beach if:
• a pollution incident occurs • sampling indicates there could be a risk to human health.
When restrictions are in place: • signs are put up at the beach notice boards • restrictions may be advertised in the media and on local authority websites • the EPA Twitter account, @EPABeaches, sends out alerts • details are put up on www.beaches.ie.
Restrictions stay in place until sampling shows that the water quality has returned to normal.
3.1: Bathing water pollution incidents in 2019 A pollution incident is an incident that has the potential to cause the bathing water quality to deteriorate at the beach. In 2019, 50 bathing water pollution incidents were reported to us, compared to 55 in 2018 (see Table 2). A precautionary approach is taken when reporting incidents meaning that not all incidents reported to us actually result in a deterioration. This approach is taken to protect bathers’ health.
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Quality in Ireland 2018 Table 2: Pollution Incidents in 2018 and 2019
2018 2019 Difference
Incidents 55 50 -5
Local authorities investigate and report the likely causes of these pollution incidents to the EPA. In 2019, they were caused by (see also Figure 3): • urban wastewater (54%)
• diffuse pollution from agriculture (18%) • septic tanks (12%) • run-off from urban areas and misconnections, where waste pipes from households have been incorrectly connected to surface drains (10%)
• contamination from animals and birds (6%)
12% Urban wastewater
Contamination from animals/birds 18% Misconnections/run-off from urban 54% areas
Diffuse pollution from agriculture 10%
6% Septic tanks
Figure 3: Likely causes of reported incidents in 2019
Weather during the 2019 bathing season Rainfall and sunshine can affect bathing water quality. Heavy rainfall can increase the number of bacteria and other harmful organisms. These are washed from our Page | 14 Environmental Protection Agency | Bathing Water
Quality in Ireland 2018 countryside and towns, through rivers and sewer systems, to our beaches.
Sunshine can improve bathing water quality by killing bacteria and other harmful organisms. The summer of 2019 featured mostly unsettled weather, with above average rainfall in most areas. Most places also experienced above average air temperatures.1 Almost three quarters of all bathing water incidents were reported during the months of June (28%) and August (46%), the wettest months of the 2019 bathing season.
3.2: Prior warnings Some beaches are susceptible to water quality problems when it rains. When heavy rainfall is forecast, many local authorities will put up ‘Prior warning’ notices at these bathing waters to warn the public that a short-term pollution event may occur.
If the bathing water quality is actually affected when the rain comes, depending on the level of pollution, the warning is then replaced by either:
• an ‘Advice against bathing’, or • a ‘Bathing prohibition’ notice.
‘Prior warning’ notices are precautionary and do not necessarily mean that pollution will occur. They advise the public of possible short-term pollution events which usually last for only a few days at most.
In 2019, there were 129 ‘Prior warning’ notices. This is 99 more than 2018 and was most likely due to the wetter summer and more local authorities using this precautionary approach to protect bathers’ health. Most of these warnings were reported during the month of August in counties Clare, Donegal, Kerry and Mayo where there were wetter than average conditions. For 19 of these warnings, the
______
1 Summary of weather conditions based on Met Éireann seasonal and monthly summaries www.met.ie/climate/past-weather-statements (Year = 2019, month = Summer)
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Quality in Ireland 2018 bathing water quality was affected by the heavy rainfall that was forecast. Table 3 shows information on the number of ‘Prior warnings’ reported in 2018 and 2019.
Table 3: ‘Prior warnings’ in 2018 and 2019
2018 2019 Difference Prior warnings 30 129 +99
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Quality in Ireland 2018
4: Poor bathing waters A ‘Poor’ classification means that the bathing water has not met the minimum standard required under the Bathing Water Regulations. For Poor bathing waters, the local authority must put up notices at the beach telling the public why there is a Poor water quality rating. Work should be done by local authorities to improve Poor bathing waters to at least Sufficient quality.
Bathing waters that are classified as Poor for five years must be declassified and are no longer identified under the Bathing Water Regulations. This is the case for Merrion Strand in Dublin, which has been classified as having Poor water quality for five years (2015-2019 inclusive). Portrane (the Brook) and Clifden have been Poor for the last four years (2016-2019 inclusive). Action should be taken by local authorities to improve these Poor bathing waters to at least Sufficient, to prevent possible declassification following the 2020 bathing water season.
Table 4 shows the number of Poor bathing waters in 2018 and 2019. • Five bathing waters were classified as Poor in 2019, the same number as in 2018. Four of those bathing waters were Poor in both years. • Two of the five Poor bathing waters are in the Greater Dublin Area (Merrion Strand and Portrane, the Brook Beach), two are located in Galway (Clifden and Ballyloughane Beaches) and one is in Westmeath (Lilliput, Lough Ennell).
• Ballyloughane Beach deteriorated from Sufficient in 2018 to Poor in 2019. • Sandymount Strand improved from Poor in 2018 to Sufficient in 2019.
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Table 4: Poor bathing waters in 2018 and 2019
Local authority Bathing water 2018 2019
Dublin City Council Merrion Strand Poor Poor
Dublin City Council Sandymount Strand Poor Sufficient
Fingal County Council Portrane, the Brook Beach Poor Poor
Galway County Council Clifden Beach Poor Poor
Westmeath County Council Lilliput, Lough Ennell Poor Poor
Galway City Council Ballyloughane Beach Sufficient Poor
Merrion Strand (Dublin City Council) Merrion Strand has been classified as Poor for the last five years, 2015 to 2019. This now means that this bathing water must be ‘declassified’ in 2020.
One of the main problems at Merrion Strand is the impact from two polluted streams which flow onto the beach. These are the Elm Park and Trimleston streams which flow through both Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown and Dublin City Council areas. These streams are polluted by a combination of misconnections where domestic plumbing goes into the wrong pipe and goes directly into the stream; leaks, spills and
overflows from wastewater collection systems; and run-off from roads.
Other potential sources of pollution, that need more investigation, include urban wastewater discharges, birds and dogs.
A new task force was set up by Dublin City Council in 2019 to specifically focus on improving the bathing water quality at Merrion Strand and Sandymount Strand. This
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Quality in Ireland 2018 task force includes representatives from Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council and others and will identify actions and measures to be implemented. Actions already underway include an increase in water quality sampling to help identify the sources of pollution. Dublin City Council is also working with Dun Laoghaire- Rathdown County Council and Irish Water to address pollution sources related to the wastewater network including misconnections, combined sewer overflows and pumping station overflows. A number of areas have been identified for further investigation, including significant misconnections.
Dublin City Council is investigating the potential for creating wetlands to improve the water quality of the Elm Park stream.
A research project called Acclimatize (see Section 6.2) is underway. It’s aims include identification of the main sources of pollution in the Dublin Bay area, including at Merrion Strand.
Portrane, the Brook Beach (Fingal County Council)
Portrane, the Brook Beach, was classified as Poor for the last four years, 2016 to 2019. The main sources of pollution are thought to be septic tank discharges, birds, dog fouling, and leaks, spills and overflows from sewers.
Fingal County Council carried out extensive investigations into the Poor water quality at Portrane the Brook beach in 2019, including a drone survey and inspection of waste water treatment systems within the beach catchment. Some improvement works have been implemented. Fingal County Council plan to continue inspections of septic tanks and sewer overflows in the area.
Fingal County Council will continue the Green Dog Walker Scheme at this beach in 2020. This environmental awareness campaign highlights the environmental impacts of dog fouling. Dog wardens will also carry out targeted inspections during the bathing season.
The Acclimatize research project includes Portrane, the Brook Beach and its findings
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Quality in Ireland 2018 should help identify solutions to improve the water quality.
Clifden Beach (Galway County Council) Clifden Beach was classified as Poor for the last four years, 2016 to 2019. The main issue at Clifden Beach is a storm water overflow at the Clifden wastewater treatment plant. Other potential sources of pollution include discharges from septic tanks in the area.
Galway County Council will continue to engage with Irish Water in relation to the storm water overflow. Irish Water have undertaken rehabilitation works on the Clifden sewer network and the waste water treatment plant.
Galway County Council will continue to follow up on issues identified with septic tanks in the area to ensure they are operated and maintained properly.
Lilliput, Lough Ennell (Westmeath County Council) Lilliput, Lough Ennell, has been classified as Poor for the last two years, 2018 and 2019.
The main source of pollution affecting the bathing water has been found to be from diffuse agriculture, with septic tank discharges and birds also potential, but less likely, sources.
Several bathing water samples taken during the 2019 season had very high levels of pollution. Westmeath County Council carried out extensive investigations in and around the lake over a number of months in 2019. This included taking numerous water samples at various locations to try and identify the source of the problem.
Westmeath County Council will continue to carry out septic tank assessments and will implement the Good Agricultural Practice Regulations, for protection of waters in the catchment, including in the assessment of agricultural planning applications. In addition, a small wastewater treatment plant located close to the bathing water is emptied daily during the bathing season to remove the contents for treatment Page | 20 Environmental Protection Agency | Bathing Water
Quality in Ireland 2018 offsite. Westmeath County Council are also progressing work with the Local Authorities Waters Programme to identify the causes of pollution in a nearby stream, which is thought to be affecting the water quality of the lake. This stream is now included in Westmeath County Council’s bathing water monitoring schedule. UCD will continue to provide assistance to Westmeath County Council with analysis of any polluted bathing water samples from Lilliput Lough Ennell, using microbial source tracking, to help identify the pollution source.
Ballyloughane Beach (Galway City Council) Ballyloughane Beach has been classified as Poor in 2019. While it achieved Sufficient bathing water quality in 2018, Ballyloughane Beach had also been classified as Poor in previous years. Galway City Council has attributed the main cause of pollution at this beach to deficiencies in the stormwater system due to misconnections from the foul sewer network. Periods of heavy rainfall are also seen to be a contributory factor.
Investigations and improvements were carried out in recent years. Galway City Council are progressing with additional investigations of the sewer network, in conjunction with Irish Water, which will help to identify potential sources of pollution and allow for scoping of improvement works.
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5: Sufficient bathing waters Nine bathing waters are currently classified as Sufficient, which is the minimum acceptable standard. Local authorities should carry out appropriate actions to improve the Sufficient bathing waters to Good or Excellent, and to prevent deterioration to Poor. Table 5 lists the bathing waters classified as Sufficient in 2019.
Table 5: Sufficient bathing waters in 2018 and 2019
Local authority Bathing water 2018 2019
Coolmaine Sufficient Good
Garryvoe Sufficient Sufficient Cork County Council
Youghal, Front Strand Beach Sufficient Good
Lisfannon Sufficient Good
Donegal County Council Portarthur, Derrybeg Good Sufficient
Dublin City Council Sandymount Strand Poor Sufficient
Balbriggan, Front Strand Sufficient Sufficient Beach
Claremont Beach Sufficient Sufficient
Fingal County Council Donabate, Balcarrick Sufficient Good Beach
Rush, South Beach Sufficient Good
Galway City Council Ballyloughane Beach Sufficient Poor
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Local authority Bathing water 2018 2019
Galway City Council Grattan Road Beach Sufficient Sufficient continued
Trá na bhForbacha, Na Sufficient Sufficient Forbacha Galway County Council Trá na mBan, An Spidéal Good Sufficient
Sligo County Council Mullaghmore Beach Sufficient Sufficient
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6: Public participation and research
6.1: What can be done to help? We can all play an important part in improving bathing water quality by reducing the waste we leave behind on the beach. Make sure that you:
• bring your rubbish home • pick up dog poo and bring it home, or dispose of it in suitable bins – don’t just bury it in the sand • bring waste food home, as leaving it behind attracts seabirds that can cause bacterial pollution • report any pollution using the ‘See It - Say it’ app – details of the app are available at www.epa.ie/enforcement/report/seeit/ • check out how to get involved in community and public initiatives – see Appendix C.
6.2: Research
This section provides a summary of on-going bathing water research projects that will give us more information about sources of pollution. This in turn will:
• protect bathers • improve bathing water quality • help improve policy
The EU SWIM project is a cross-Border research programme developing a system for live bathing water monitoring. The aim is to develop a system that will allow bathers to check live water quality information for their chosen bathing spots before they dip a toe in the water. The specially designed pilot system will enable short-term
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Quality in Ireland 2018 pollution to be better predicted and will provide bathers with access to these predictions via an app on their smart phone, on electronic beach signage, and on a dedicated website. This will help to protect public health and also contribute to promoting tourism. University College Dublin is the lead project partner and the Northern Irish project partners are the Agri-Food Biosciences Institute and Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful. www.swimproject.eu www.twitter.com/EUSWIMproject
Duncannon Blue Flag Farming and Communities Scheme
Wexford County Council are the lead authority in this three-year project funded under the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine’s European Innovation Partnership scheme.
The long-term aim of the project is to recover the Blue Flag status for Duncannon Beach. It will do this by improving the bacterial quality of the two coastal streams that flow onto the beach. This means reducing pollution from both agricultural and domestic sources. Community involvement will be encouraged through:
• citizen science • leaflets • private well testing • school science projects • public talks
Other project partners include Teagasc, Irish Farmers Association, Bord Bia, Glanbia and farm advisors.
https://ec.europa.eu/eip/agriculture/en/find-connect/projects/duncannon-blue-flag-
farming-communities-scheme
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Figure 4: Duncannon Beach
PIER: Public health Impact of Exposure to antibiotic Resistance in coastal waters Pier is an EPA-funded research project to look at the human health risk from antimicrobial resistant organisms in coastal bathing waters. It will generate valuable evidence to inform policy makers and water regulators.
The proposed research will also examine how environmental exposure to antimicrobial resistant organisms affects:
• quality of life • use of blue or green spaces.
The National University of Ireland Galway is leading this project. It will run from 2019 to 2023. https://www.nuigalway.ie/medicine-nursing-and-health- sciences/medicine/disciplines/bacteriology/research/pier/
Acclimatize research project – pollution in urban and rural bathing waters Acclimatize is a €9.2 million project which is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund. It focuses on understanding what affects bathing water quality at ‘at risk’ bathing waters, and the potential impacts of climate change.
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Quality in Ireland 2018 The project is led by University College Dublin, in collaboration with Aberystwyth University, Wales. In Ireland, the team is focusing on urban bathing waters in the Greater Dublin area:
• Sandymount Strand • Merrion Strand • Dollymount Strand • Donabate, Balcarrick Beach • Portrane, the Brook Beach.
In Wales, the focus is on rural bathing waters.
The project started in May 2017 and will run until June 2023.
www.acclimatize.eu www.twitter.com/AcclimatizeEU
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Quality in Ireland 2018
7: ‘Other’ monitored bathing waters
Some other places where people swim, but that are not formally identified as bathing waters, are still monitored by local authorities for water quality. These are generally smaller, or more remote beaches. Their infrastructure to cater for many users (for example, car parking facilities) may not be as well developed as the popular bathing areas, but they are still considered important for eco-tourism purposes.
An Taisce inspect many of these waters under the Green Coast award scheme. We strongly recommend that bathers check www.beaches.ie or any signage at the beach to review the most up to date bathing water quality. You can also contact the local authority for information relating to bathing water quality.
Not all of these bathing waters are on www.beaches.ie and they may have no signs because they are not officially identified as bathing waters.
Water quality We have assessed the monitoring information for the ‘other’ monitored bathing waters for the quality that is likely to be achieved at these waters. The results are in
Figure 5 and Appendix D. Monitoring may not be carried out to the same standard or minimum frequency (at least once a month) required for identified bathing waters.
We encourage local authorities to formally identify these bathing waters where practical.
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Figure 5: Bathing water quality (‘other’ monitored waters) Map of Ireland 2019 Page | 29 Environmental Protection Agency | Bathing Water
Quality in Ireland 2018 8: Conclusions
95% of bathing waters met the minimum standard of Sufficient Water quality improved in 2019, with 95% of bathing waters reaching or exceeding the minimum required standard of Sufficient.
Number of Poor waters unchanged at 5 Five bathing waters were Poor in 2018 and 2019, with four of the bathing waters being the same in both years. Local authorities should work with key stakeholders to carry out appropriate actions to increase the number of bathing waters classified as Good or Excellent.
Merrion Strand Poor for 5 years in a row Merrion Strand has been classified as Poor for the last 5 years, 2015 to 2019. This bathing water must now be ‘declassified’ in 2020. Reported incidents down from 55 to 50 The number of pollution incidents reported to the EPA decreased from 55 in 2018 to
50 in 2019. Fifteen of these were related to problems at wastewater treatment plants and do not appear to have caused a deterioration in bathing water quality.
Urban wastewater is the biggest problem Urban wastewater is the most common source of pollution affecting bathing water. More improvements in operation, management and maintenance of plants and networks are still needed.
Everyone can contribute to improving water quality Everyone can play their part by bringing their rubbish home, cleaning up after their dogs, and reporting pollution.
Page | 30 Environmental Protection Agency | Bathing Water Quality in Ireland 2018 Glossary and background information
Agriculture Pollution from agriculture can be widespread over large areas. This ‘diffuse’ kind of diffuse pollution can be more difficult to locate than smaller ‘point’ sources of pollution like pipes or channels.
Bathing water This is a general term used for those locations where people swim or use beaches and lakes for recreation.
Bathing Water This refers to Statutory Instrument 79 of 2008 (SI 79 of 2008), the Regulations Bathing Water Quality Regulations 2008, which brought the Bathing Water Directive 2006/7/EC into Irish legislation.
Citizen science The process whereby citizens volunteer to collect scientific data that contributes to the achievement of local, national or international goals.
Declassified A bathing water is declassified when it is no longer identified under the Bathing Water Regulations.
E. coli / These are two types of bacteria found in both human and animal intestinal faeces in large numbers. They are used as indicators of the enterococci possible presence of other harmful micro-organisms like viruses.
Eco-tourism Visits by the public to areas of natural beauty where the setting is unspoiled. Visitors are encouraged to act responsibly and to respect the environment and the wellbeing of local communities.
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Identified This is the legal term used for those beaches and lakes managed Bathing Waters under the Bathing Water Regulations. Local authorities are responsible for identifying bathing waters within their area. These are generally the waters considered to be the most popular. We report these to the European Commission each year.
The public can propose that new bathing waters be identified under the Bathing Water Regulations. Guidance on this is available from www.beaches.ie
Misconnections Misconnections are outlet pipes from toilets or household appliances such as dishwashers and washing machines, that have been incorrectly connected to surface drains, rather than sewers. They can be a source of pollution because they are untreated.
‘Other’ This is an EPA term which generally applies to smaller and less monitored popular beaches that are monitored by local authorities as a public waters health measure. These beaches are not formally managed under the Bathing Water Regulations.
Pollution This is defined (for bathing water purposes) as the presence of microbiological contamination or waste affecting water quality and presenting a risk to the health of bathers.
Septic tanks Also called domestic waste water treatment systems.
An underground tank made of concrete, fiberglass, or plastic through which domestic waste water (waste water from toilets, sinks, showers, washing machines and dishwashers in houses) flows for basic treatment.
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Short-term AlsoQuality referred in Ireland to as 2018 a Prior Warning, is the term is used in the pollution regulations for microbiological contamination that:
• has clearly identifiable causes • is not expected to last more than 72 hours • for which the local authority has set up procedures to predict and manage.
Urban run-off Surface run-off of rainwater and contaminants in urban areas.
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Quality in Ireland 2018 Appendix A: Additional information on bathing water classifications The process for monitoring and assessing bathing water quality is the same across the EU. It is set out in the EU Bathing Water Directive (2006/7/EC) and in Irish Legislation (Bathing Water Regulations S.I. No. 79 of 2008).
Local authorities submit a monitoring calendar to the EPA for each identified bathing water before the bathing season begins. Local authorities take samples on the dates given in the monitoring calendar. They submit results of the sample analysis to the
EPA.
For the bathing water classifications, we assess the results of the previous four years’ monitoring. We need at least 16 samples for classification. We use sampling results for two microbial indicators of pollution – E. coli and Intestinal enterococci.
We carry out a statistical assessment of the four years of data and compare the results to the bathing water standards. The comparison with the standards gives the bathing water its classification of Excellent, Good, Sufficient or Poor.
This classification is an annual assessment that uses the latest four years of data.
Page | 34 Environmental Protection Agency | Bathing Water Quality in Ireland 2018 Appendix B: Summary information for identified bathing waters This section lists the classifications for all 147 Identified Bathing Waters for the period 2016 to 2019.
Local authority Identified Bathing Water 2016 2017 2018 2019 Clare County Council Ballyallia Lake, Ennis Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Ballycuggeran Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Bishopsquarter Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Cappagh Pier, Kilrush Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Fanore Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Kilkee Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Lahinch Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Mountshannon, Lough Derg Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Seafield, Quilty n/a New Excellent Excellent Spanish Point Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent White Strand, Doonbeg Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent White Strand, Miltown Malbay Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Cork County Council Barley Cove Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Coolmaine Good Sufficient Sufficient Good Fountainstown Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Garretstown Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Garrylucas, White Strand Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Garryvoe Sufficient Sufficient Sufficient Sufficient Inchydoney Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Inchydoney East Beach n/a n/a n/a New Owenahincha, Little Island Strand Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Redbarn Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Tragumna Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Warren, Cregane Strand Sufficient Good Good Good Youghal Front Strand Beach Sufficient Sufficient Sufficient Good Youghal, Claycastle Good Good Good Excellent Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown Forty Foot Bathing Place n/a n/a New Excellent (DLR) County Council Killiney Good Good Good Good Sandycove Beach n/a n/a New Good Seapoint Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent White Rock Beach n/a n/a New Excellent Donegal County Council Ballyhiernan, Fanad Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Bundoran Excellent Excellent Good Excellent Carrickfinn Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Culdaff Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Dooey New New Excellent Excellent
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Local Authority Identified Bathing Water 2016 2017 2018 2019 Donegal County Council Downings Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent continued Drumnatinny Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Fintra Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent
Killahoey Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Lady's Bay, Buncrana Sufficient Sufficient Good Good Lisfannon Good Good Sufficient Good Magheraroarty New New Excellent Excellent Marble Hill Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Murvagh Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Naran Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Portarthur, Derrybeg Excellent Good Good Sufficient Portnablagh Good Good Good Good Portsalon Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Rathmullan Good Good Good Good Rossnowlagh Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Stroove Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Dublin City Council Dollymount Strand Good Good Good Excellent Merrion Strand Poor Poor Poor Poor Sandymount Strand Sufficient Poor Poor Sufficient Fingal County Council Balbriggan, Front Strand Beach Sufficient Sufficient Sufficient Sufficient Claremont Beach Good Sufficient Sufficient Sufficient Donabate, Balcarrick Beach Good Sufficient Sufficient Good Loughshinny Beach Poor Poor Good Good
Portmarnock, Velvet Strand Beach Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent
Portrane, the Brook Beach Poor Poor Poor Poor
Rush North Beach New Sufficient Good Good Rush, South Beach Sufficient Poor Sufficient Good Skerries, South Beach Good Sufficient Good Good Sutton, Burrow Beach Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Galway City Council Ballyloughane Beach Poor Poor Sufficient Poor Grattan Road Beach Good Good Sufficient Sufficient Salthill Beach Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Silverstrand Beach Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent
An Trá Mór, Coill Rua, Indreabhán Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent
Bathing Place at Portumna Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent
Céibh an Spidéil Good Good Good Excellent
Cill Mhuirbhigh, Inis Mór Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Clifden Beach Poor Poor Poor Poor Goirtín, Cloch na Rón Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Loughrea Lake Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Trá an Dóilín, An Ceathrú Rua Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Trá Chaladh Fínis, Carna Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent
Trá Inis Oírr (Main Beach) Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Trá na bhForbacha, Na Forbacha Poor Sufficient Sufficient Sufficient
Page | 36 Environmental Protection Agency | Bathing Water Local Authority IdentifiedQuality Bathing in Ireland Water 2018 2016 2017 2018 2019 Galway County Council Trá na mBan, An Spidéal Sufficient Sufficient Good Sufficient continued Traught, Kinvara Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Kerry County Council Baile an Sceilg (Ballinskelligs) Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Ballybunnion North Excellent Excellent Excellent Good Ballybunnion South Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Ballyheigue Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent
Banna Strand Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent
Castlegregory Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent
Cúas Crom n/a n/a n/a New Doire Fhíonáin (Derrynane) Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Fenit Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Fionntrá (Ventry) Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Inch Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Kells Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Maharabeg Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent
Rossbeigh, White Strand Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Trá na hUíne (Inny Strand, Waterville) Excellent Good Good Good White Strand, Caherciveen Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Leitrim County Council Keeldra Lough Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Louth County Council Clogherhead Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Port, Lurganboy Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Seapoint Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Shelling Hill/Templetown Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Mayo County Council Bertra Beach, Murrisk Excellent Excellent Good Excellent Carrowmore Beach, Louisburgh Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Carrowniskey, Louisburgh Excellent Excellent Excellent Good Clare Island, Louisburgh Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent
Dooega Beach, Achill Island Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent
Dugort Beach, Achill Island Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent
Elly Bay, Belmullet Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent
Golden Strand, Achill Island Excellent Excellent Good Good Keel Beach, Achill Island Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Keem Beach, Achill Island Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Mullaghroe Beach, Belmullet Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Mulranny Beach Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Old Head Beach, Louisburgh Good Good Good Good
Rinroe Beach, Carrowtigue Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Ross Beach, Killala Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Meath County Council Laytown/Bettystown Good Good Good Good Sligo County Council Dunmoran Beach Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Enniscrone Beach Good Good Good Good Mullaghmore Beach Good Good Sufficient Sufficient Rosses Point Beach Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent
Streedagh Beach Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent
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Local Authority Identified Bathing Water 2016 2017 2018 2019 Waterford City and Ardmore Beach Changes2 Excellent Excellent Excellent County Council Bunmahon Beach Sufficient Sufficient Good Good Clonea Beach Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Counsellors' Strand, Dunmore East Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Dunmore Strand, Dunmore East Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Tramore Beach Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Westmeath County Lilliput, Lough Ennell Good Good Poor Poor Council Portnashangan, Lough Owel Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent The Cut, Lough Lene Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Wexford County Council Ballinesker Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Ballymoney, North Beach Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Carne n/a Excellent Excellent Excellent Courtown, North Beach Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent
Curracloe Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent
Duncannon Sufficient Good Good Good
Morriscastle Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Rosslare Strand Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Wicklow County Council Bray South Promenade Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Brittas Bay North Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Brittas Bay South Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Clogga Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent
Greystones South Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent
Silver Strand Good Good Excellent Good
2 If a local authority takes action at a 'Poor' or 'Sufficient' bathing water to make a significant improvement in water quality, we give a 'Changes' class to the beach for the following bathing season. The 'Changes' class remains until at least 16 water sample are taken. We then calculate a new quality rating. Page | 38 Environmental Protection Agency | Bathing Water Quality in Ireland 2018 Appendix C: Community and Public Initiatives The following are a few ideas on how to get involved in looking after your local beach.
#2minutebeachclean
Pick up a few bits of litter when you go to the beach. Take a picture of the litter and post it on social media, then take it home to recycle, or put it in a bin at the beach. In Ireland, there are more than 120 #2minutebeachclean boards around the coast. www.cleancoasts.org/our-initiatives/2minutebeachclean/ www.beachclean.net
Make Kilkee Plastic Free This initiative aims to reduce the quantity of single-use plastics used by businesses in Kilkee, Co Clare. It makes a direct link between:
• the quality of the ocean, which drives coastal economies • the responsibilities of the businesses that benefit from it. www.kilkeekeith.wixsite.com/kilkeeplasticfree
GLAN GLAN is an initiative that helps community groups and businesses to work together to improve their local environmental. It has been piloted in Dingle and Tralee, Co Kerry, so far with huge success, and is also now in Sligo. It focuses on reducing single-use plastics in our everyday lives and inspiring environmental actions. www.glan.ie/
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Quality in Ireland 2018 Havin’ a Laugh
Havin’ a Laugh is a charity working to promote positive mental health through life- enhancing activities. The Sligo-based charity embraces the coast and the outdoors and does beach cleans and other coastal activities. www.havinalaugh.com/
Think Before You Flush Think Before You Flush is a public awareness campaign about the problem sanitary products and other items can cause in our marine environment and our wastewater systems, if they are flushed down the toilet. The campaign is operated by An Taisce’s Clean Coasts programme and is supported by Irish Water.
www.thinkbeforeyouflush.org/
Clean Coasts Weekend The Clean Coasts programme kicks off the bathing season with Clean Coasts Weekend, which encourages community groups to organise a beach clean or community clean up in their region. The aim is to engage and empower people and communities to protect our precious coastal resources and appreciate and celebrate everything our coastline has to offer. Community groups who partake in this event receive beach clean kits and guidance on beach cleaning and become part of a national effort to keep our beaches clean. Community groups can avail of support from the Clean Coasts programme after this event to continue their efforts throughout the year.
www.cleancoasts.org/
Big Beach Clean The Big Beach Clean is held at hundreds of beaches around Ireland and is an annual call to action that encourages volunteers to remove marine litter from around the
Page | 40 Environmental Protection Agency | Bathing Water Irish coast after the Qualityend of thein Ireland bathing 2018 season. Participants of this event are also encouraged to participate in a citizen science project run through this weekend by monitoring the types of marine litter collected. This information is collected by the Clean Coasts programme and used to inform actions regionally and nationally by Clean Coasts volunteer groups to protect their coastline in the following 12 months. In 2019, over 300 clean ups took place all around Ireland, engaging approximately 8,000 volunteers who removed over 45 tonnes of marine litter.
www.cleancoasts.org/
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Quality in Ireland 2018 Appendix D: Summary information for ‘other’ monitored bathing waters This section lists the classifications for all ‘other’ monitored bathing waters for the period 2016 to 2019.
Number of samples Local authority/bathing water Water quality (2016-2019) over 4 years Cork County Council Ballyrisode Highest Quality 20 Cadogans strand, Schull Highest Quality 21 Dooneen Pier Highest Quality 19 Galley Cove Highest Quality 20 Garnish Highest Quality 20 Inch Highest Quality 20 Oysterhaven Highest Quality 20 Red Strand Highest Quality 21 Ring Highest Quality 20 Rocky Bay Highest Quality 20 Shanagarry beach (Ardnahanich) Highest Quality 21 Silver Strand, Sherkin Island Highest Quality 19 Dublin City Council Half Moon Generally Good Quality 90 North Bull Wall Below Minimum Standard 66 Shelley Banks Meets Minimum Standard 66 Fingal County Council Malahide Beach Highest Quality 76 Galway County Council Aillebrack/Silverhill Highest Quality 20 An Trá Mór, Gorumna Island Highest Quality 21 Dog's Bay, Roundstone Highest Quality 20 Dumhach Highest Quality 20 East End Inisbofin Highest Quality 20 Esker, Banagher Generally Good Quality 16 Glassilaun, Killary Highest Quality 21 Mannin Bay, Ballyconneely Highest Quality 16 Omey Island Strand Generally Good Quality 21 Renvyle Highest Quality 20 Trá Poll na gCaorach Inis Oirr Highest Quality 21 Kerry County Council Béal Bán Highest Quality 32 Derrymore Meets Minimum Standard 21 Littor Highest Quality 41 Waterville Town Beach Highest Quality 39 Meath County Council Mornington Highest Quality 28
Page | 42 Environmental Protection Agency | Bathing Water Quality in Ireland 2018 Number of samples Local Authority/bathing water Water Quality (2016-2019) over 4 years Monaghan County Council Creevy Lake, Carrickmacross Highest Quality 20 Emy Lake, Emyvale Highest Quality 24 Gortnawinny Lough, Clones Highest Quality 16 Greaghlone Lake, Carrickmacross Meets Minimum Standard 20 Halton’s River, Cootehill Highest Quality 20 Hollywood Lake, Scotstown Generally Good Quality 20 Lough Muckno (Bathing area) Meets Minimum Standard 20 Tipperary County Council Lough Derg - Castlelough Highest Quality 18 Lough Derg - Dromineer Generally Good Quality 19 Lough Derg - Skehena Highest Quality 18 Lough Derg - Terryglass Highest Quality 18 Lough Derg - Youghal Quay Highest Quality 18 Waterford City and County Council Annestown Highest Quality 22 Ballyquin Highest Quality 19 Ballyvooney Below Minimum Standard 22 Boatstrand Below Minimum Standard 23 Curragh Highest Quality 19 Goat Island Highest Quality 20 Guillamene Highest Quality 20 Kilfarrassey Generally Good Quality 24 Newtown Cove Highest Quality 20 Stradbally Below Minimum Standard 45 Whiting Bay Generally Good Quality 20 Woodstown Below Minimum Standard 22 Wexford County Council Ballyhealy Highest Quality 59 Booley Bay Highest Quality 60 Cahore Highest Quality 60 Cullenstown Highest Quality 62 Culletons Gap Highest Quality 60 Grange Highest Quality 63 Kilmore Quay Small Beach Highest Quality 61 Old Bawn Highest Quality 61 St Helens Bay Highest Quality 59 Wicklow County Council Arklow South Beach Highest Quality 26 Kilcoole Highest Quality 18 Murrough Highest Quality 18 South of Bray Harbour Highest Quality 21 Wicklow Harbour Bathing Area Below Minimum Standard 21
Page | 43 AN GHNÍOMHAIREACHT UM CHAOMHNÚ COMHSHAOIL Monatóireacht, Anailís agus Tuairisciú ar Tá an Ghníomhaireacht um Chaomhnú Comhshaoil (GCC) freagrach as an an gComhshaol gcomhshaol a chaomhnú agus a fheabhsú mar shócmhainn luachmhar do • Monatóireacht a dhéanamh ar cháilíocht an aeir agus Treoir an AE mhuintir na hÉireann. Táimid tiomanta do dhaoine agus don chomhshaol a maidir le hAer Glan don Eoraip (CAFÉ) a chur chun feidhme. chosaint ó éifeachtaí díobhálacha na radaíochta agus an truaillithe. • Tuairisciú neamhspleách le cabhrú le cinnteoireacht an rialtais náisiúnta agus na n-údarás áitiúil (m.sh. tuairisciú tréimhsiúil ar Is féidir obair na Gníomhaireachta a staid Chomhshaol na hÉireann agus Tuarascálacha ar Tháscairí). roinnt ina trí phríomhréimse: Rialú Astaíochtaí na nGás Ceaptha Teasa in Éirinn Rialú: Déanaimid córais éifeachtacha rialaithe agus comhlíonta • Fardail agus réamh-mheastacháin na hÉireann maidir le gáis comhshaoil a chur i bhfeidhm chun torthaí maithe comhshaoil a cheaptha teasa a ullmhú. sholáthar agus chun díriú orthu siúd nach gcloíonn leis na córais sin. • An Treoir maidir le Trádáil Astaíochtaí a chur chun feidhme i gcomhair breis agus 100 de na táirgeoirí dé-ocsaíde carbóin is mó in Éirinn. Eolas: Soláthraímid sonraí, faisnéis agus measúnú comhshaoil atá ar ardchaighdeán, spriocdhírithe agus tráthúil chun bonn eolais a Taighde agus Forbairt Comhshaoil chur faoin gcinnteoireacht ar gach leibhéal. • Taighde comhshaoil a chistiú chun brúnna a shainaithint, bonn eolais a chur faoi bheartais, agus réitigh a sholáthar i réimsí na Tacaíocht: Bímid ag saothrú i gcomhar le grúpaí eile chun tacú haeráide, an uisce agus na hinbhuanaitheachta. le comhshaol atá glan, táirgiúil agus cosanta go maith, agus le hiompar a chuirfidh le comhshaol inbhuanaithe. Measúnacht Straitéiseach Timpeallachta • Measúnacht a dhéanamh ar thionchar pleananna agus clár beartaithe Ár bhFreagrachtaí ar an gcomhshaol in Éirinn (m.sh. mórphleananna forbartha). Ceadúnú Cosaint Raideolaíoch Déanaimid na gníomhaíochtaí seo a leanas a rialú ionas nach • Monatóireacht a dhéanamh ar leibhéil radaíochta, measúnacht a ndéanann siad dochar do shláinte an phobail ná don chomhshaol: dhéanamh ar nochtadh mhuintir na hÉireann don radaíocht ianúcháin. • saoráidí dramhaíola (m.sh. láithreáin líonta talún, loisceoirí, • Cabhrú le pleananna náisiúnta a fhorbairt le haghaidh éigeandálaí stáisiúin aistrithe dramhaíola); ag eascairt as taismí núicléacha. • gníomhaíochtaí tionsclaíocha ar scála mór (m.sh. déantúsaíocht • Monatóireacht a dhéanamh ar fhorbairtí thar lear a bhaineann le cógaisíochta, déantúsaíocht stroighne, stáisiúin chumhachta); saoráidí núicléacha agus leis an tsábháilteacht raideolaíochta. • an diantalmhaíocht (m.sh. muca, éanlaith); • Sainseirbhísí cosanta ar an radaíocht a sholáthar, nó maoirsiú a • úsáid shrianta agus scaoileadh rialaithe Orgánach dhéanamh ar sholáthar na seirbhísí sin. Géinmhodhnaithe (OGM); • foinsí radaíochta ianúcháin (m.sh. trealamh x-gha agus Treoir, Faisnéis Inrochtana agus Oideachas radaiteiripe, foinsí tionsclaíocha); • Comhairle agus treoir a chur ar fáil d’earnáil na tionsclaíochta • áiseanna móra stórála peitril; agus don phobal maidir le hábhair a bhaineann le caomhnú an • scardadh dramhuisce; chomhshaoil agus leis an gcosaint raideolaíoch. • gníomhaíochtaí dumpála ar farraige. • Faisnéis thráthúil ar an gcomhshaol ar a bhfuil fáil éasca a chur ar fáil chun rannpháirtíocht an phobail a spreagadh sa Forfheidhmiú Náisiúnta i leith Cúrsaí Comhshaoil chinnteoireacht i ndáil leis an gcomhshaol (m.sh. Timpeall an Tí, • Clár náisiúnta iniúchtaí agus cigireachtaí a dhéanamh gach léarscáileanna radóin). bliain ar shaoráidí a bhfuil ceadúnas ón nGníomhaireacht acu. • Comhairle a chur ar fáil don Rialtas maidir le hábhair a • Maoirseacht a dhéanamh ar fhreagrachtaí cosanta comhshaoil na bhaineann leis an tsábháilteacht raideolaíoch agus le cúrsaí n-údarás áitiúil. práinnfhreagartha. • Caighdeán an uisce óil, arna sholáthar ag soláthraithe uisce • Plean Náisiúnta Bainistíochta Dramhaíola Guaisí a fhorbairt chun phoiblí, a mhaoirsiú. dramhaíl ghuaiseach a chosc agus a bhainistiú. • Obair le húdaráis áitiúla agus le gníomhaireachtaí eile chun dul i ngleic le coireanna comhshaoil trí chomhordú a dhéanamh ar Múscailt Feasachta agus Athrú Iompraíochta líonra forfheidhmiúcháin náisiúnta, trí dhíriú ar chiontóirí, agus • Feasacht chomhshaoil níos fearr a ghiniúint agus dul i bhfeidhm trí mhaoirsiú a dhéanamh ar leasúchán. ar athrú iompraíochta dearfach trí thacú le gnóthais, le pobail • Cur i bhfeidhm rialachán ar nós na Rialachán um agus le teaghlaigh a bheith níos éifeachtúla ar acmhainní. Dhramhthrealamh Leictreach agus Leictreonach (DTLL), um • Tástáil le haghaidh radóin a chur chun cinn i dtithe agus in ionaid Shrian ar Shubstaintí Guaiseacha agus na Rialachán um rialú ar oibre, agus gníomhartha leasúcháin a spreagadh nuair is gá. shubstaintí a ídíonn an ciseal ózóin. • An dlí a chur orthu siúd a bhriseann dlí an chomhshaoil agus a Bainistíocht agus struchtúr na Gníomhaireachta um dhéanann dochar don chomhshaol. Chaomhnú Comhshaoil Tá an ghníomhaíocht á bainistiú ag Bord lánaimseartha, ar a bhfuil Bainistíocht Uisce Ard-Stiúrthóir agus cúigear Stiúrthóirí. Déantar an obair ar fud cúig • Monatóireacht agus tuairisciú a dhéanamh ar cháilíocht cinn d’Oifigí: aibhneacha, lochanna, uiscí idirchriosacha agus cósta na • An Oifig um Inmharthanacht Comhshaoil hÉireann, agus screamhuiscí; leibhéil uisce agus sruthanna • An Oifig Forfheidhmithe i leith cúrsaí Comhshaoil aibhneacha a thomhas. • An Oifig um Fianaise is Measúnú • Comhordú náisiúnta agus maoirsiú a dhéanamh ar an gCreat- • Oifig um Chosaint Radaíochta agus Monatóireachta Comhshaoil Treoir Uisce. • An Oifig Cumarsáide agus Seirbhísí Corparáideacha • Monatóireacht agus tuairisciú a dhéanamh ar Cháilíocht an Tá Coiste Comhairleach ag an nGníomhaireacht le cabhrú léi. Tá Uisce Snámha. dáréag comhaltaí air agus tagann siad le chéile go rialta le plé a dhéanamh ar ábhair imní agus le comhairle a chur ar an mBord. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
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