This article is from page 15 of the 2006-06-06 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 15 JPG
AN OFFICIAL report which gives bathing waters in Clare the thumbs up has been welcomed by the county’s mayor.
The EPA’s Bathing Water Quality in Ireland Report 2005 has found Irish bathing water quality to be among the highest in Europe with 96 per cent of bathing areas assessed in full compliance with European Standards.
In Clare, 100 per cent of bathing waters assessed complied with EU minimum standards including all the top summer holiday spots such as: Ballyallia Lake at Ennis, Ballycuggeran, Bishopsquarter, Cappagh Pier at Kilrush, Fanore, Kilkee, Lahinch, Mountshannon at Lough Derg, Spanish Point, White Strand at Doonbeg and White Strand at Miltown Malbay.
Despite meeting these EU standards, a slight reduction in bathing water quality was registered at Ballyallia Lake at Ennis.
The news was welcomed yesterday by the Mayor of Clare, Pat Keane (FF).
“We are delighted to hear this news. It is an indication of how hard the county council has worked for many years to get this result. Now the hard work has paid off – we have the bathing water up to the required standard and we want to keep it there,” the mayor said.
Nationally, a total of 131 designated bathing areas, both seawater and freshwater, were monitored by local authorities throughout the 2005 bathing season.
Commenting on this year’s bathing quality results, Gerard O’Leary, Programme Manager, EPA said: “The EPA are pleased to report that Irish bathing waters remain at a good standard not least in Clare where all but one bathing area assessed complied with both EU minimum mandatory standards and stricter guide values”.
“However, nationally there is a mixed picture with improvements in some areas and deterioration in others. A notable finding in the report highlights the positive effect of wastewater treatment facilities on bathing water quality reflecting the need to invest in treatment facilities in areas of deterioration.”
A total of 131 beaches around Ireland were assessed for compliance with two sets of EU standards: minimum quality standards and more stringent EU Guide Values. The key findings are that: • 126 of the 131 bathing areas (98 per cent) complied with mandatory EU standards. 128 bathing areas complied in 2004. • 191 of the 131 (91 per cent) bathing areas complied with the much stricter EU guidelines standards. 115 bathing areas complied in 2004. • Five bathing areas out of the 131 failed to comply with mandatory EU standards.