Waters at Ballinesker were among those in County Wexford classed as ‘Excellent’

HOLIDAYMAKERS AND local alike keen to enjoy a dip in the waters off Wexford over the summer months can do so with peace of mind, as a new report highlights almost all of the county’s key bathing destinations boasted waters deemed to be of ‘excellent’ quality in 2016.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), headquartered at Johnstown Castle, assigned the highest possible quality standard to coastal waters at: Ballymoney, North Beach; Courtown, North Beach; Morriscastle; Ballinesker, Curracloe and Rosslare Strand.

Bathing waters at Duncannon Strand in the west of the county, which were deemed to have been of ‘poor’ quality in 2015, improved over the course of the year to receive a ‘sufficient’ designation in light of their 2016 standard.

Waters in the area were deemed to be ‘vulnerable’, however, with sewage / surface waters highlighted as a likely pollution source.

The ‘Bathing Water Quality in Ireland’ report stated that ‘Duncannon showed a marked improvement in performance in 2016 when compared with previous years, however the absence of a suitable wastewater treatment system means this location remains potentially at risk of a decline in quality.’

Read more in the Wexford Echo.