This year, the lucky stroke of good weather meant many people headed to Ireland’s beaches. While people might not think about it, understanding bathing water quality, how it’s measured, and how it works helps prepare us to swim safely. A recent report on bathing water quality in 2025 gives key insights into Ireland’s beaches and lakes.
Table of Contents
How It’s Measured: Bathing Water Quality Ireland
Local authorities across Ireland collect water samples before and throughout the bathing season—typically from 1 June to 15 September, though some councils may extend that period. It’s also common to find locals swimming year-round as the practice of cold water immersion continues to grow in Ireland.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) then evaluates these results and assigns one of four classifications: Excellent, Good, Sufficient, or Poor. Only Sufficient or better meets the minimum requirement.
Bathing Water Quality Ireland: Key Findings in 2025 Report
The latest EPA report shows that Ireland’s bathing waters remain in excellent health overall. We can even see some important improvements recorded in 2024. Luckily, this means Ireland’s shores are still shining and mostly very safe to swim in.
Here are some of the main findings from the report:
1. More Sites than Ever Were Monitored
A record 151 bathing water locations were tested in last year’s survey, up from 148 in 2023. This reminds us of the importance of widespread monitoring and how regular environmental testing can enable us to feel safer swimming at our local beaches. If anything goes unexpectedly wrong and our waters become temporarily polluted, regular testing helps us identify issues and alert the public.
2. Water Quality Remains High Nationwide
The vast majority of sites — 96% (145 in total) — met or exceeded the required “Sufficient” standard. While this is down from 97% in 2023, more sites were tested in the latest report. So, the actual number of sites exceeding the “sufficient” standard is higher this time — 145 instead of 143 in 2023.
Even more encouraging, 81% of sites (122) achieved the top “Excellent” rating. This is the highest proportion since the classification system was introduced in 2014 — a definite victory for Irish water.
3. Fewer Sites Fell Short
Only two bathing waters were classified as “Poor” in 2024: Lady’s Bay in Buncrana, Co. Donegal, and Sandymount Strand in Dublin. This marks an improvement on 2023, when five sites were rated Poor.
Three beaches that struggled in previous years improved their standing thanks to targeted local management— Balbriggan, Trá na mBan, and Loughshinny.
4. New Bathing Waters Added
Three new sites were officially identified as safe to swim in 2024. The Cove in Greystones, Half-Moon in Dublin, and Dromineer Lake in Tipperary were all added to the list of bathing spots. Impressively, Half-Moon secured an “Excellent” classification in its very first year.
5. Pollution Events Are Declining
There were 34 short-term pollution incidents in 2024, down from 45 in the previous year. While heavy rainfall remains a key challenge, local authorities responded quickly with warnings and closures when needed. In total, 79 prior warning notices were issued — a significant reduction compared with 149 in 2023. Most of these notices were concentrated in August, which was the wettest month of the season.
Heavy Rainfall Impacting Bathing Water Quality Ireland
Heavy rainfall continues to have a major impact on Ireland’s bathing water quality. While 2024 was drier overall than 2023, pollution events still occurred during heavy downpours, especially in August, which was the wettest month of the season.
The EPA recorded 34 pollution incidents in 2024, down from 45 in 2023. Most were linked to contamination in water samples or sewer overflows. Local authorities also issued 79 “prior warning” notices, compared with 275 the year before. However, 81% of these warnings came in August, showing how a single wet month can put huge pressure on wastewater and drainage systems.
- Agricultural runoff – 32%
- Contamination from animals and birds – 17%
- Misconnections or runoff from urban areas – 11%
- Urban wastewater – 36%
- Algae or cyanobacteria blooms – 2%
- Septic tanks – 2%
- Urban wastewater – 36%
Protecting Our Bathing Waters
Ireland’s bathing water is generally of a very high standard, but heavy summer rainfall can quickly put pressure on our beaches and lakes. That’s why it’s always a good idea to check www.beaches.ie or the signs at your local beach before you swim. It gives you the latest updates on water quality and any restrictions in place.
To keep our waters clean, it’s vital to reduce the flow of harmful substances into rivers, lakes, and the sea. At Southern Scientific, we support this effort by providing effluent testing services. By analysing wastewater for potential contaminants, we can help identify risks early and stop pollutants from entering Ireland’s bathing waters.
