TWO GALWAY BEACHES BELOW EU BATHING WATER STANDARDS

Date Published: 07-May-2008

Two Galway beaches are among four in the country which have failed to pass basic European standards for water quality.

A new report from the Environmental Protection Agency has deemed the sea water at Clifden and Na Forbacha, unsafe to swim or bathe in.

The presence of traces of human or animal waste material in the water was the main reason that the beaches were found to be unsafe.

The EPA has called on Galway county council to improve the operation of the Clifden Waste water treatment plant, which it cited as the most significant source of contamination of bathing waters.

Meanwhile the Bathing place at Portumna, Tra Chaladh bhFuinnse and Spiddal main beach failed the EU Guide limits for faecal coliforms.

Galway city council complied fully with all EU bathing water standards for its beaches.