Public Participation: Identification of Bathing Waters

Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council (dlr) must identify official bathing areas each year so they can be monitored for safety, water quality and how they are used. To support this work, we are asking people who swim at beaches, lakes and rivers to share their views. We want to know if existing bathing water areas should stay the same, or if new areas, already used for swimming but not officially recognised should be added.

Under European and Irish law, local authorities must identify bathing waters each year. These areas are then monitored to make sure they meet strict water quality standards. In some cases, these are also the locations where lifeguards are provided during the summer.

dlr must also prepare a profile for each bathing water. 

This includes:

• A description of the bathing area
• Information on possible sources of pollution
• An assessment of risks
• Actions that would be taken if pollution occurs

Have your say

If you are a regular swimmer, you can help by considering:

• How the area is currently used
• How many people use it
• What facilities are available and how easy it is to access
• Any safety concerns

You can suggest a new bathing area or comment on an existing one.