Inadequate sewage treatment has been blamed for the failure of ten Northern Ireland beaches to meet the highest bathing water standards, a new report revealed today.
Even though a record 13 have been recommended by the Marine Conservation Society's (MCS) Good Beach Guide for 2007, the 10 were not included in the same category because discharges were not treated to EC standards.
Another four, including Newcastle, Co Down - which failed the mandatory tests last year - qualified with just basic passes. Another was Castlerock - but none of the 27 monitored failed the European mandatory standards.
The guide is the only independent comprehensive guide to bathing water quality in the United Kingdom, according to the society.
MCS recommended beaches have the highest water quality standards and adequate treatment of any continuous sewage discharges.
The 13 to make the grade in Northern Ireland are: Magilligan Strand (Benone), Magilligan (Downhill), Portrush (Whiterocks), Waterfoot, Carnlough, Brown's Bay, Helen's Bay, Crawfordsburn, Ballyholme, Murlough (Tyrella), Tyrella (Clough), Warrenpoint and Cranfield (Nicholsons Strand).
The beaches which met EC guidelines with good water quality standard were: Portstewart (Strand), Portrush (West Strand), Portrush (East Strand), Ballycastle, Cushendun, Cushendall, Groomsport, Millisle Lagoon, Ballyhalbert, and Cranfield Bay. Graded with basic passes were: Castlerock, Ballygally, Ballywalter, and Newcastle.
PA