By Sean ORiordan

Saturday, August 25, 2012

Seven beaches in Co Cork have reopened after the latest test results showed a significant fall in E.coli levels.

Meanwhile, bathers in Galway were waiting for further tests at Grattan Beach, near Mutton Island, which was closed earlier this week because of excessive E.coli bacteria.

The decision to reopen the Cork beaches was taken yesterday after the county council published another batch of test results the second within 24 hours.

Last week, Youghals Front Strand, Claycastle, and Redbarn beaches were closed because tests showed levels of E.coli in bathing water breached EU limits of 2,000 particles of E.coli in 100ml of water.

Beaches at Garryvoe, Garretstown, Oysterhaven, and Coolmaine were also shut.

Oysterhaven had over six times the permitted level of the bacteria at 12,033, while Fort Strand was nearly four times over the limit.

Tests at Oysterhaven on Monday, and published on Thursday, showed a fall to 175 and a test there on Wednesday, published yesterday, showed a fall to 75.

Similar significant decre-ases were recorded at the other affected beaches.

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Cork beaches reopen as E.coli reaches safe levels