ELEVEN of the EU identified bathing waters in County Clare achieved compliance with the new stricter standards of ‘Excellent ‘ or ‘Good’ bathing water quality according to the most recent Environmental Protection Agency report, The Quality of Bathing Water in Ireland – 2014.
Those waters which achieved the excellent standard rating included Ballyallia Lake, Ballycuggeran, Bishopsquater, Cappagh Pier Kilrush, Fanore, Kilkee, Lahinch, Mountshannon, Lough Derg, Spanish Point and White Strand – Doonbeg and Miltown Malbay.
Throughout 2014, Local Authorities tested 136 EU identified bathing waters together with many other smaller, or less well used, waters with 94% of identified bathing areas meeting new stricter EU standards. These are almost twice as strict as those previously applied.
The EPA advises bathers in County Clare that they can check current bathing water quality using the Splash website, splash.epa.ie. The website has an interactive, colour-coded map that allows people to check out any of the 136 EU identified bathing waters. Before deciding on the best place to swim, you can find the latest reported water quality, and check if there is any bathing water warning or notification in place at your chosen location. Bathers can also follow the EPA on Twitter @EPABathingWater and receive text updates on any bathing water incidents.
A native of Ennis, Colin McGann has been editor of The Clare Champion since August 2020. Former editor of The Clare People, he is a journalism and communications graduate of Dublin Institute of Technology.