Dún Laoghaire Baths remains safe for swimming despite a recent “Poor” bathing water classification, according to Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council.
The council said current water quality at the popular south Dublin swimming spot is rated “excellent”, with regular testing continuing throughout the year.
Water at the Baths is sampled twice monthly outside bathing season and weekly from June 1 to September 15.
The statement follows notification from the Environmental Protection Agency that Dún Laoghaire Baths had received a “Poor” classification for the 2026 bathing season, a rating based solely on test results recorded during 2025.
However, the council stressed that when water quality is assessed across the full three-year period from 2023 to 2025, the site meets “Good” standards overall, with 91 per cent of samples rated “Excellent”.
According to the council, two isolated pollution incidents in July 2025 led to elevated bacteria readings that affected the classification.
Officials said those incidents did not reflect the overall quality of the bathing water at the site.
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council said it has submitted a comprehensive management plan to the EPA aimed at improving resilience and reducing the risk of future pollution events.
Measures outlined in the plan include closer coordination with Uisce Éireann to improve notification systems for overflow events from the urban drainage network, alongside targeted enforcement and public awareness campaigns aimed at reducing dog fouling.
The council is also participating in several research initiatives focused on improving bathing water quality in Dublin Bay.
These include Acclimatize II, a joint project involving Dublin coastal local authorities, Uisce Éireann and University College Dublin to identify sources of reduced water quality.
Another initiative, UrbanDip, is testing a prototype real-time bathing water quality sampler and pollution forecasting system at Dún Laoghaire Baths.
The council said medium and long-term infrastructure works are also being progressed by Uisce Éireann to lessen the impact of stormwater overflow events.
Officials said test results, notices and explanations relating to water quality will continue to be displayed at the Baths and published online throughout the bathing season.
The council added that it remains committed to protecting public health and restoring the site’s official bathing water classification to “Sufficient” or higher as quickly as possible.