The Environmental Protection Agency would like to see more officially designated bathing areas across the Inland Waterways of Ireland.
That's according to EPA scientist Anthony Mannix who was speaking on the Let's Talk show this afternoon.
There are presently only 9 designated areas across the inland waterways including Keeldra Lake in Leitrim, Lough Owel outside Mullingar and Lilliput on the shores of Lough Ennell which is also in Westmeath.
Asked why there are no reports for water quality at popular bathing areas around Lough Ree Anthony Mannix says a local authority has to designated an official bathing area before it is tested for water quality and included in the report.
He says the agency would welcome more areas in the midlands of the country being included.
'It is up to the county council's to look at this every year. They put out a call to the public to submit on any proposals for the identification of bathing waters. This will be assessed by the council in terms of whether they can identify bathing water. Currently we have nine bathing waters on inland waters with the rest of the coast so it would be great to see that nine increase.'
