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WATERFORD • IDENTIFIED BEACH

Ardmore Beach

Waterford City & County Council

Good
SWIMMING STATUS TODAY

No active EPA restriction shown

EPA alert data last synced 19 Oct 2026, 13:36.

NO ACTIVE ALERT SHOWN
Can I swim here?No active EPA restriction shownCurrent EPA alert/restriction status
Current restrictionNone shown in current EPA alertsThis is not a guarantee of swimming conditions. Always check local signs, lifeguard instructions and the latest official advice at the beach.
Latest sampleExcellentIndividual sample result only
Last tested7 Sep 2026Latest sample stored from EPA

Current restrictions and beach signage take priority over annual classifications and individual sample results. Conditions can change between samples.

Annual EPA classification · 2025GoodLonger-term annual classification
Latest available sampleExcellent7 Sep 2026
E. coli20Latest sample result
Intestinal enterococci44Latest sample result
Next monitoring—EPA schedule where available
Short-term pollution riskYesEPA location profile field

EPA annual assessment

Ardmore Beach is classified as achieving Good Water Quality in 2025 based on the assessment of bacteriological results for the period 2022 to 2025. Ardmore Beach has achieved an Excellent Water Quality rating for the three consecutive years 2022 to 2024. Annual water quality ratings are generally calculated using monitoring results over a four-year period and are assessed against stringent bacterial limits to protect bather health.

Annual water quality history

2025Good
2024Excellent
2023Excellent
2022Excellent

Recent water samples

DateSample statusE. coliIntestinal enterococci
7 Sep 2026Excellent2044
24 Aug 2026Excellent2012
10 Aug 2026Excellent<104
27 Jul 2026Excellent2040
17 Jul 2026Excellent2069
29 Jun 2026Excellent<103
15 Jun 2026Excellent16466
2 Jun 2026Excellent11140
27 May 2026Excellent<101

Facilities & access

Blue FlagNo
Green CoastNo
LifeguardYes
First aidYes
LifebuoyYes
ToiletsYes
ParkingYes
AccessibleYes
Beach wheelchairNo
Public transportYes
Information boardYes
Litter binYes
RecyclingYes
Natural sensitive areaNo

About this bathing water

Ardmore is a sandy beach with a gentle slope down to the low water mark and beyond. Helvick Head to the east and Youghal harbour to the west of Ardmore beach are both special areas of conservation and/or special protected area. This is due to wildlife which is supported throughout the region. Activities include swimming, surfing, body-boarding and kayaking. While the beach is 1 km long, the designated bathing area is approximately 500 metres long and 100 metres wide (at low tide).

Official information

Managed by Waterford City & County Council.

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