To assess the microbiological quality of the water and to minimise any public health risk, bathing waters are sampled and testing is carried out approximately twice per month outside the bathing season and once per week during the bathing season. This is more frequent than is required under the regulations, which require only four samples per year.
The location where the sample is taken at each bathing area is where most bathers are expected. Samples are taken 30cm below the water surface in water that is at least 1 metre deep.
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council take samples approximately every week during the bathing season and every fortnight outside of the bathing season across 9 bathing water locations along the coastline.
Samples are tested for two types of faecal indicator bacteria: Escherichia coli (also known as E. coli) and Intestinal Enterococci (I.E.). The Central Laboratory count the number of each these bacteria, which may indicate the presence of pollution e.g. found in sewage or animal waste.
The results of the analysis are assessed against the standards defined in the Bathing Water Quality Regulations 2008 and on a four-year data set using a statistical approach.
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