Warning for Southside swimmers

RESTRICTION notices were slapped on a number of popular Southside bathing areas last week.

Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council issued a notice banning swimming at Killiney and White Rock beaches while Dublin City Council temporarily banned bathing at Sandymount Strand.

The notices at Killiney and White Rock followed the results of samples, which showed high levels of E Coli and Enterococci contaminants.

“The cause of these high levels are not known and an investigation has commenced,

? a spokesman said.

Councillor Cormac Devlin (FF) urged parents to be cautious and not allow their children enter the water until the all clear had been given.

The Blue Flag was also removed from Killiney pending the outcome of the investigation.

The restriction notices were lifted and the Blue Flag put back in Killiney on Friday.

Dublin City Council said samples taken at Sandymount Strand and Half Moon Swimming Club (South Wall) early last week indicated that the water quality didn’t comply with the minimum standards for bathing.

“Dublin City Council has not, as yet, determined the cause of this event but is carrying out further investigations in this regard,

? a spokesman said.

“Bathing water quality can be temporarily impacted by factors such as weather and tidal conditions, faecal matter from dogs and birds and temporary overflows from drains. This can result in a temporary fall in water quality.

?

The ban at Sandymount was due to be lifted on Friday after samples later in the week confirmed the water quality had improved significantly. However, intense rainfall led to the activation of an emergency overflow facility in the local drainage network resulting in an overflow onto Sandymount Strand.

The temporary ban was lifted but the council recommended that the public continue not to use the water until further samples were examined.

The quality of bathing waters around Dublin can be checked online at www.splash.epa.ie.