The European Environment Agency state that 22,000 bathing water sites are monitored across Europe each season. 29 countries report their assessments to the European Environment Agency (EU 27 plus Albania and Switzerland). 85% of Europe’s bathing water sites met Europe’s most stringent assessment of excellent whereas 96% of bathing waters met minimum quality standards.
This week they launched country based factsheets on bathing water assessments for 2024. In Ireland, 96.7% of sites are classified as sufficient or better with 80.8% reaching the most stringent excellent quality.
Bathing water sites have an established monitoring calendar before the bathing season. Monitoring includes:
- Pre-season samples are taken before the start of the bathing season,
- Four samples are taken during the bathing season and
- The interval between sampling dates must not exceed one month.
In Ireland, 151 bathing water sites are monitored (141 coastal site sand 10 inland sites). Three new sites were added in 2024 and none were delisted.
In addition to the monitoring calendar, the assessment period for the previous four years is also reported which provided an indication of changing trends.
Information is available on water quality conditions in Ireland’s coastal water at the following website hosted by the EPA.
With good weather forecast for this coming weekend. If you wish to visit a local beach, find out about its water quality at www.beaches.ie
Information on European Bathing Waters and other country reports are available at:
Europe’s bathing waters safe for summer swimming | European Environment Agency’s home page
