Monitoring & Assessment: Freshwater & Marine Publications

Bathing Water Quality in Ireland

A Report for the Year 2016

Summary: The quality of Ireland’s bathing waters remains very high with 93% of identified bathing waters (130 of 140) meeting the minimum EU standards for ‘Sufficient’ water quality over the four year assessment period 2013-2016. Full details can be viewed in the downloaded report.

Key Findings:

• 130 (92.9%) of Ireland’s 140 identified bathing waters met the minimum required standard of ‘Sufficient’ water quality – 2 more than in 2015
• 120 (85.7%) bathing waters were classed as being either ‘Excellent ‘or ‘Good’ quality in 2016 compared to 114 (83.2%) in 2015
• 14 - waters improved in quality, 8 showed signs of a deterioration and 1 was newly classified
• 79 other waters where bathing takes place were monitored by local authorities - many of which met the criteria for Excellent quality
• 6 bathing waters (4.3%) failed to meet the minimum required standard and were classified as being of ‘Poor’ quality in 2016 (the same as in 2015 but only 3 cover both periods).  These were: