Four of the country's most popular bathing spots have failed to meet the minimum EU standards for water quality, with high levels of faecal coliforms detected by Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) tests.
Designated local authority swimming areas at Balbriggan and Malahide in Fingal, north Dublin, Clifden, Co Galway and Dunmore East Main Strand, Co Waterford, all failed the minimum cleanliness standards, with Clifden failing for the second year in a row.
Inadequate sewage treatment facilities were the primary reason the popular seaside resorts failed the tests, the EPA said.
The release of the EPA results coincided yesterday with the discovery of a sewage spillage in Tramore, Co Waterford. The sewage was accidentally released from a temporary pumping station which had been in operation for 18 months pending an upgrade of the town's sewage works.
The spillage of raw, untreated sewage was discovered early yesterday at the back strand in Tramore, designated as a special conservation area and one of the southeast's most prolific natural fish nurseries.
A mechanical malfunction at the temporary pumping station caused it to release the sewage into the bay over a 12- to 24-hour period, according to senior engineer with Waterford County Council Pat McCarthy.
A clean-up operation began yesterday and initial water quality assessments indicated that marine life in the area had not been adversely affected, Mr McCarthy said. There was no connection between the contaminated area and public drinking water supplied, he added.
The new sewage plant is almost completed and is due to open in the months ahead, he said. "Once the new treatment plant comes online, the temporary pumping station will no longer be required. The Tramore sewerage scheme represents a €20.9 million investment in the area and the state-of-the-art treatment plant will dramatically improve water quality in Tramore bay."
Meanwhile, the EPA said it was concerned that a small number of beaches were not meeting the minimum bathing water standards, but said that overall water quality levels were high, with 127 out of 131 sites tested reaching the required EU standard.
The presence of faecal coliforms at the four sites which failed the test indicated that inadequately treated sewage was spilling into bathing areas, Gerard O'Leary of the EPA said.
"Local authorities should continually update the public on the quality of bathing waters during the upcoming bathing water season. Where problems with water quality are showing up they must take the necessary actions to ensure that water quality complies with the bathing water standards," he said.
