This article is from page 10 of the 2014-05-06 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 10 JPG
CLARE’S 11 bathing areas have got the all clear for the summer season.
This is the first time in a number of years that all of Clare’s bathing areas have got top marks from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
According to the report on Bathing Water Quality each of the areas were deemed to be compliant with manda- tory water quality levels.
Bathing waters were classified into three categories, namely ‘Good’, ‘Sufficient’ and ‘Poor’. The classification system is based on the levels of E. Coli and intestinal enterococci detected in the bathing water during the 2013 bathing season.
All 11 bathing areas around Clare were adjudged to have ‘Good Water Quality’ having complied with EU Guide and Mandatory levels, includ- ing Ballyalla Lake (Ennis) which was deemed to only have ‘Sufficient Water Quality’ in 2012.
The other bathing water areas are White Strand (Milltown Malbay), Ballycuggeran (Lough Derg), Cappa Pier (Kilrush), Bishopsquarter, White Strand (Doonbeg), Kilkee, Spanish Point, Lahinch, Fanore and Mountshannon (Lough Derg).
According to Paul Moroney Senior Engineer, Clare County Council, “In particular, the Council is pleased that Ballyalla Lake had good results in 2013 and it is working to ensure that improved status is maintained this year and for the future.”
Of the 18 Local Authorities who have designated bathing areas, just six, including Clare, achieved ‘good’ water quality status for all of their identified bathing waters.
Dr Matthew Crowe, Director of the EPA’s Office of Environmental Assessment, said, “Irish bathing waters continue to be among the best in northern Europe. By contrast to the 2012 bathing season, the warm dry conditions last year meant that many waters returned to their normal good quality. Our projections show that almost 90 per cent of Ireland’s designated bathing waters should meet the new ‘excellent’ or ‘good’ water quality standards which will come into force from this year.”