Bacteria warning issued for Portmarnock beach

FINGAL County Council has issued a Prior Warning Notice for Velvet Strand, Portmarnock for four days.

Bathers are advised of the possibility of an increase in the levels of bacteria in the bathing water due to the forecast of heavy rainfall.

A bathing water sample is scheduled to take place on Friday, August 21 and results will be available on Sunday, August 23.

The Notice states that to reduce the risk of illness, beach users should take the following precautions:

• Avoid swallowing or splashing water
• Wash your hands before handling food
• Avoid swimming with an open cut or wound
• Avoid swimming if you are pregnant or have a weakened immune system

The Velvet Strand remains open but beach users are asked to respect the  advisory notice as it has been put in place to ensure that the health of bathers is not compromised.

Members of the public can check for water quality at any of the monitored bathing waters in Ireland in advance by accessing the EPA website at www.beaches.ie or by checking the notice board at the entrance to each beach.