Tougher bathing water rules in force this week

NEW EU bathing water regulations come into force this week which will mean a doubling of the highest water quality standards for bathing places and may mean that some of the country's beaches will be below minimum standards. The new system is twice as stringent as the basis for the Blue Flag designation.

The regulations, which come from an EU directive, were signed by Minister for the Environment John Gormley last Friday and are due to go before the Dáil next week. They will begin to be implemented from this summer's bathing season, according to the department.

The new law aims to increase protection of the health of bathers and reduce the risk of people catching mild gastro-enteritis or respiratory diseases from natural swimming areas.

Testing for faecal bacteria will mean water standards are significantly tighter. This problem is mainly due to inadequate sewerage treatment and animal waste pollution. Thus the microbiological testing has been simplified to look for the presence of just two parameters, E. coli and intestinal enterococci.

Water quality will fall into four new categories, "excellent", "good", "sufficient" and "poor". The highest standard will now be doubled to form the "excellent" category. Below this, the "good" category will be the same as the previous maximum standard. "Good" status must be achieved in all bathing areas by 2015, under the regulations. The "sufficient" category will be stricter than the old minimum standards.

The "poor" category means water has failed to meet basic levels and will include water that previously met the basic standard.

As a result, some popular bathing areas, which previously met minimum water standards, will be classified as "poor". These include Ardmore, Co Waterford; Burrow Beach in Sutton, Co Dublin; Tramore Strand, Co Waterford; Spiddal main beach in Co Galway; and Dublin city centre strands at Merrion and Sandymount. However, standards should eventually be improved by new waste water treatment plants planned or being built near many of these locations.

Between 80 and 94 per cent of Ireland's bathing waters are expected to fall into the "excellent" category with between 5 and 12 per cent expected to meet the "sufficient" category.

The unusually high rain in the summer of 2007 will severely impact on the water quality figures for last summer because high rainfall often gives rise to short term pollution. In future the new law will be able to accommodate exceptions in the case of short term pollution in an area.

Bathing waters can be temporarily classified as "poor" for up to five consecutive years but still remain compliant with the EU regulations, as long as causes are identified and are being dealt with. However after this, permanent advice against bathing in an area will be given to the public.

Detailed information on the water quality is to be made available to the public at bathing places and online by 2012.

The classification will be based on monitoring by local authorities for four consecutive bathing seasons. Testing will begin before the bathing season, which has been extended from the start of June until 15th September.