Council investigating Ardmore Beach following loss of Blue Flag status

Tests to be conducted to identify source of water issues

Ardmore Beach

Waterford received an impressive 13 coastal awards last week, with Tramore, Clonea and Bunmahon awarded with Blue Flag status. It wasn't all good news however, as Counsellor's Strand in Dunmore East and Ardmore Beach failed to retain their Blue Flags.

Losing the flag in Ardmore could prove particularly contentious, as plans are well underway on the development of a €1.3 million water activity centre at the beach. 

In light of the disappointing loss of Ardmore's flag, Senior Executive Officer with Waterford Council's Environment Department, Dawn Wallace, said that the Council are working to identity where pollution is coming from.

Ms. Wallace added that the loss of the Blue Flag in Ardmore was purely down to water quality. She reassured visitors to the beach that the water quality remains of a high standard, and that the quality of water at the beach was only reduced from 'excellent' to 'good'.

"What’s already been happening is the Water Quality team have been trying to triangulate where the source of pollution is coming from. That involves testing at different points of the stream to understand where the pollution is coming from and the sources of that pollution.

"One way we do that is by sending the results to labs to test for different types of fecal matter found within the water, because that is what causes our poor results. We can ask the labs to look at whether that’s coming from horses, dogs, cattle or humans."

Ms. Wallace said that the Council's Water Quality team will be effectively doubling in size in the coming months.

"Once we have everyone in situ we’ll be in a much better position to understand where the failures are coming from and look at rectifying them."

(Funded by the Local Democracy Scheme)