Identification of Bathing Waters in the County of Cork for 2012
Public Consultation
Cork County Council is undertaking a public participation process as part of the identification of Bathing Waters
under the Bathing Waters Directive (2006/7/EC) and the Bathing Water Quality Regulations 2008 (SI No. 79 of
2008).
Under the 2008 Regulations, local authorities are required to identify bathing waters annually. It is also a
requirement of the Regulations that the public be involved in their implementation, including in the
identification of bathing water sites.
Accordingly, Cork County Council invites comments from interested parties in relation to the identification of
Bathing Waters. This consultation process provides the public with an opportunity to:
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comment on existing designated bathing waters with a view to continuation of designation
comment on other bathing waters not currently designated but which may be considered for
designation.
Comments can be submitted as follows:
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By post to:
Identified Bathing Waters, Cork County Council, Hume House, Wolfe Tone Street, Clonakilty, Co. Cork or
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by e-mail to:
bathingwaterscork@corkcoco.ie
All submissions will be considered by Cork County Council using the following criteria:
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Numbers and different categories of users to the proposed beach
Bathing water quality
Public safety
Environmental pressures
Existing physical infrastructure at the beach
Community involvement
Resources
The closing date for receipt of submissions is Friday 30th September, 2011
Clean Coast Initiatives
Meeting all the criteria can be somewhat onerous; therefore communities may also wish to consider registering
as a coast-care group for a particular beach or area of coastline and once established they can aim for a green
coast award for their beach. Further information can be obtained by clicking here
<http://www.cleancoastsireland.org/>
<Click
here>http://www.corkcoco.ie/co/web/Cork%20County%20Council/Departments/Environment%
20%26%20Waste/Water%20Quality/Beaches/Designated%20Bathing%20Waters?did=18269294
4 for details of existing identified beaches in the County of Cork.
For further background information please <click here> (link to page outlining background etc of
the issue (in pages hereunder)
Background
Bathing Waters are an important amenity, valuable for both their tourism and recreational potential. It is
important that they are afforded the appropriate protections in accordance with legislation, including the
European Union's Bathing Waters Directive. The Directive requires that water quality at all designated bathing
waters meets stringent microbiological standards in order to protect the health of people who choose to bathe
there.
The Bathing Waters Directive (2006/7/EC) is concerned with the management of bathing water quality
generally, with the exception of swimming pools, spa pools and waters used for therapeutic purposes.
Article 1.3 of the Directive states that it applies to: "Any element of surface water where the competent
authority expects a large number of people to bathe and has not imposed a permanent bathing prohibition, or
issued permanent advice against bathing"
This Directive came into force on 24 March 2006 and will repeal the existing 1976 Directive with effect from 31
December 2014.
The Directive was transposed into Irish Law by the Bathing Water Quality Regulations 2008 (S.I. No. 79 of
2008). The 2006 Directive establishes a new classification system for bathing water quality based on four
classifications "poor", "sufficient", "good" and "excellent" and generally requires that a classification of
‘sufficient’ be achieved by 2015 for all bathing waters. Transitional measures are in place until the new Bathing
Water Quality Regulations 2008 (SI No. 79 of 2008), are fully implemented.
The quality of bathing water in Ireland for 2010 (EPA Bathing Water Quality Report 2010), was generally of a
high standard. The number of designated seawater bathing areas was 122 and there were 9 designated inland
bathing areas.
Compliance with the standards for the combined total of 131 Bathing Waters showed an increase of 4% for the
mandatory standard for 2010 (97% compliant) and an increase in compliance levels for the stricter guide
standard (90% compliance in 2010, 82% compliance in 2009, up from 78% compliance in 2008).
Legislation
The legislation governing the quality of bathing waters for the 2010 season continues to be the Quality of
Bathing Waters Regulations, 1992 (S.I 155 of 1992) and amendments, which transposed the earlier 1976 EU
Directive concerning the quality of bathing water. The purpose is to ensure that bathing water quality is
maintained and if necessary improved so that it complies with specified standards designated to protect health
and the environment.
Identification of Bathing Waters
Under the old Regulations the Minister for the Environment, Heritage & Local Government has the power to
designate bathing waters following assessment of a detailed submission from a Local Authority. Under the new
Regulations, it is now the responsibility of the Local Authorities to identify Bathing Waters within their
functional areas, by 24th March each year and to notify the EPA of the designated sites.
It is expected that all 131 sites currently designated will be included on the first list to be supplied to the
Agency by the 24th March 2012. It is also expected that the extent of designation will be maintained or
increased.
Among other things, the 2008 Bathing Water Quality Regulations require that:
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Not later than 24 March 2011, and on an annual basis thereafter, Local Authorities identify all bathing
waters for the bathing season of that year and notify them to the EPA
the bathing waters to be identified are all elements of surface waters (sea and freshwater) where the
local authorities expect ‘a large number of people’ to bathe;
Local Authorities should ensure public participation in the identification process.
Public Participation
The new Directive and Regulations require public participation in the identification process
Information on existing designated bathing waters is available on the bathing water website
<www.bathingwater.ie> and also on the beach awards website < www.beachawards.ie>
Criteria to be used for identification of Bathing Waters
Generally, a ‘large number of bathers’ will be found at popular, well-used bathing waters and lakes where
bathing is encouraged and facilities for bathers have been provided. European law and practice has made it
clear that the number of bathers is not the only relevant criterion for identifying bathing waters
The term ‘large numbers of bathers’ is not defined by the Directive but should be assessed in light of past
trends at the site or to any infrastructure or facilities provided to promote bathing.
In making your submission in relation to the identification of bathing water sites, it might be helpful to consider
the following factors, in addition to numbers using the site:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Past trends including different categories of people using the proposed beach
Information on bathing water quality
Safety considerations
Environmental pressures
Infrastructure or facilities provided (including accessibility)
Community involvement.
Resources
Clean Coast Initiatives
Meeting all the criteria can be somewhat onerous; therefore communities may also wish to consider registering
as a coast-care group for a particular beach or area of coastline and once established they can aim for a green
coast award for their beach. Further information can be obtained by clicking here
<http://www.cleancoastsireland.org/>