REVEALED: Sewage, septic tank overflow and animal faeces to blame for 'poor quality' Irish beaches

Overflow of waste from septic tanks, sewage discharge and faeces from dogs, horses and birds are just some of the reasons that five beaches in Ireland have failed the annual bathing water quality test. 

This quality control test is carried out by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) each year just in time for summer, as people get ready to visit the Irish coast and swim in Irish waters. 

Swimmers and holidaymakers are advised to avoid beaches that are polluted, as stomach bugs or even more severe illness can arise if exposed to polluted waters due to the harmful bacteria within.

While 97% of Irish beaches and bathing waters meet the minimum standard of cleanliness and safety expected, five have scored 'poor' quality on the test. 

These are:

• Balbriggan – Front Strand Beach, Co Dublin, which is impacted by sewage discharges and misconnections; faeces from dogs, birds and other animals and contaminated surface streams flowing through the town.
• Loughshinny Beach, Co Dublin, which is impacted by sewage discharges, misconnections from domestic plumbing systems, septic tanks, faeces from dogs, horses and birds, and contaminated streams which flow into the bathing water.
• Sandymount Strand, Co Dublin, which is impacted by pollution from contaminated streams, misconnections, sewage discharges and faeces from dogs and birds.
• Lady’s Bay, Buncrana, Co Donegal, which is impacted by Buncrana waste water treatment plant, combined stormwater overflows, and surface run-off, which are made worse by heavy rainfall.
• Trá na mBan, An Spidéal, Co Galway, which is impacted by the Spiddal sewer network, run-off from agriculture, and discharges from septic tanks.

Bathing water quality can be impacted by heavy rainfall, as explained by Dr Eimear Cotter, director of the EPA office of evidence and assessment: “While our bathing water quality is generally very good overall, there is a need to build climate resilience into the management of bathing waters to reduce the risk of pollution following heavy rainfall.  

“While beach closures play an important role in protecting bathers’ health, local authorities need to improve their understanding of the pressures which can impact beaches in the context of changing rainfall patterns.”  

The designated bathing season in Ireland is from June 1 to September 15.