Feeling blue as bathing spot loses coveted EU hygiene flag

Seapoint, near Dun Laoghaire in Co Dublin, is one of a number of beaches around the country that have failed the high water quality standards needed to maintain their coveted status.
Other beaches which have failed the standards for a Blue Flag flying include Portrane and Donabate in Dublin, Duncannon in Wexford and Bunmahon in Co Waterford.

ONE of Dublin's most popular beaches has lost its Blue Flag because of water contamination.

Seapoint, near Dun Laoghaire in Co Dublin, is one of a number of beaches around the country that have failed the high water quality standards needed to maintain their coveted status.

Other beaches which have failed the standards for a Blue Flag flying include Portrane and Donabate in Dublin, Duncannon in Wexford and Bunmahon in Co Waterford.
Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council is now investigating whether a sewage leak is behind the problem at Seapoint, which has been accompanied by an appaling stench in
the area in the last fortnight.

Tests carried out last week showed that the level of faecal matter at Seapoint exceeded the levels required to keep a Blue Flag.

This was also the case for samples on August 14 when level of faecal coliforms and streptococci were five times higher than those permitted under the stringent standards.

"The analysis of a sample taken at Seapoint on Tuesday, August 28, 2007 showed that one parameter was marginally above the limit for Blue Flag status and while this is not in any way harmful, it exceeded the very stringent standard required to retain the Blue Flag. The Blue Flag for Seapoint has therefore been removed," a notice at the bathing place states.

Swimmers and Dart users have also complained of a dreadful smell coming from the sea between nearby Salthill and Blackrock in the last fortnight.

The council said that Dublin City Council laboratory had confirmed the presence of large quantities of algae called ectocarpus and small amounts of enteromorpha -- species they said were "naturally occurring benign plants and not in any way harmful".

Council spokesman Richard Shakespeare said that engineers were investigating the source of the problem and whether the smell was related to the excessive faecal count.

A sewage overflow was one possibility and other causes could be related to algae growth or discarded nappies and sanitary products as these were being picked up from the beaches in large numbers, he said.

"We are very proud of having achieved some of the cleanest bathing water in Dublin in the last few years at both Seapoint and Killiney and we will do everything we can to find out what the problem is," he said.

© Irish Times 05.09.07