Mixed results for beaches in EU test

WATER quality has taken a dip at Irish beaches with fewer bathing areas meeting standards of cleanliness.

But Irish bathing water still ranks among the best in Europe, according to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) annual report, and the small number of freshwater lakes and rivers tested produced their best results ever.

Three of the 122 beaches surveyed last year failed to reach mandatory minimum EU standards which require local authorities to test for bacteria, sewage, detergents, fuels and other types of pollution.