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Home News EPA publishes report on Bathing Water Quality in Ireland in 2021

EPA publishes report on Bathing Water Quality in Ireland in 2021

On 13 May 2022 the EPA published the Bathing Water in Ireland report for 2021 which shows that 78% of bathing sites have excellent water quality while 97% meet the minimum standard. This is attributed to improved management of bathing waters over many years combined with investments in treatment of urban waste water.

However, while bathing water quality has continued to improve overall, there are still issues to address to protect and further improve bathing waters.

Agriculture, urban waste water and fouling from dogs on beaches still impact the quality of bathing waters. In addition, heavy rainfall can also quickly impact by washing pollution into our bathing waters.

Swimmers should always check www.beaches.ie for the latest bathing water quality information.

WATCH: EPA’s Senior Scientist, Jenny Deakin, summarises the key findings of our ‘Bathing Water Quality Report 2021’. Read the report here: https://t.co/LaXYCdXC8h @LGMAIreland @WatersProgramme @EPACatchments #bathingwater #waterquality pic.twitter.com/36JIQDciij
— EPA Ireland (@EPAIreland) May 13, 2022

Summary

97 per cent of bathing waters (144 of 148) met or exceeded the minimum required standard. This is up from 96 per cent in 2020
115 (78 per cent) bathing waters were classified as ‘Excellent’, up from 111 in 2020
Westmeath County Council and other stakeholders have collaborated to improve bathing water quality at Lilliput Lough Ennell, Co. Westmeath which was classified as ‘Poor’ for 2018, 2019 and 2020. During 2020 and 2021, the bathing water quality improved significantly due to actions taken by farmers in the surrounding catchment. The restriction on swimming has been removed.
Two bathing waters were identified in 2020 and were classified for the first time following the 2021 season. They were Carrigaholt and Quilty, both in Co. Clare and both ‘Excellent’.
One new bathing water, Aillebrack/Silverhill Beach, Co. Galway was identified in 2021.
42 pollution incidents were reported to EPA during 2021. Incidents have the potential to cause a pollution risk and when they occur, swimming restrictions are applied at the beach until sampling shows the water quality is safe.
Local authorities also put up 104 ‘Prior Warning’ notices at beaches in 2021, to warn swimmers that short-term pollution (lasting no more than a few days) may occur due to heavy rainfall. These warnings are removed when sampling shows the water quality is safe.

2 bathing waters were classified as ‘Poor’, down from 4 in 2020. Local Authority management plans have been put in place to address the sources of pollution at these two beaches:

Balbriggan – Front Strand Beach, Co. Dublin which is impacted by sewage discharges and misconnections; faeces from dogs, birds and other animals; and contaminated surface streams flowing through the town.
Lady’s Bay, Buncrana, Co. Donegal which is impacted by Buncrana waste water treatment plant, combined stormwater overflows, and surface run-off, which are made worse by heavy rain.

Learn more:

2021 Bathing Water Quality Report

2021 Bathing Water Quality Map

Table with classification of of Identified Bathing Waters for 2018-2021

2021 Bathing Water Quality Infographic

Additional information (including a map and table of all other monitored waters) are on epa.ie

Media

The @EPAIreland Director of Evidence and Assessment Eimear Cotter discussed the 2021 Bathing Report on @morningireland

Nearly 80% of our bathing waters are excellent status.

97% are meeting the minimum requirements.https://t.co/rUEpaXN1yB
— EPABeaches (@EPABeaches) May 13, 2022

About author

EPA Catchments Unit

Administrator

The EPA Catchments Unit is based in Dublin, and the team is involved with catchment science, chemistry, ecology, hydromorphology, modelling, Geographic Information Systems and planning. We work with the wider EPA, all of our local authorities, the Local Authority Waters and Communities Office, the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, and other public bodies and Departments to ensure we have the best available data and information about our catchments.

Who is involved?
Quite simply, everyone in Ireland has a role to play. This can be from something as simple as making sure you don’t pollute your local stream, or a local community working together to establish a Rivers Trust to enhance the rivers and lakes in their area, to a Government Department or Agency helping a Minister implement a new policy to help protect and enhance all our water bodies.

This website has been developed and is maintained by the Environmental Protection Agency, and is a collaboration between the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Local Authority Waters Programme.

Local Authority Waters Programme

The Local Authority Waters Programme coordinates the efforts of local authorities and other public bodies in the implementation of the River Basin Management Plan, and supports local community and stakeholder involvement in managing our natural waters, for everyone’s benefit.

Environmental Protection Agency

The EPA is responsible for coordinating the monitoring, assessment and reporting on the status of our 4,842 water bodies, looking at trends and changes, determining which waterbodies are at risk and what could be causing this, and drafting environmental objectives for each.

Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

The Department is responsible for making sure that the right policies, regulations and resources are in place to implement the Water Framework Directive, and developing a River Basin Management Plan and Programme of Measures to protect and restore our waters.