Welcome for Balbriggan Beach bathing water boost

Balbriggan’s Front Strand has lost its ‘Poor’ status in an Environmental Protection Agency report on Bathing Water Quality, with almost 20 samples resulting in ‘Excellent’ ratings.

Intensive works by Fingal County Council over five years, aimed at improving water quality at Balbriggan’s Front Strand, have paid off, it has been revealed.

Since a poor rating in June 2023, 23 samples have yielded 18 ‘Excellent’ ratings.

Now, the EPA has deemed Front Strand to have changed status and all-season notices advising people not to swim will be lifted.

Fingal County Council’s Balbriggan Beach Management Plan, introduced by the authority’s Environment section, and implemented with the help of Uisce Éireann, identified risks causing poor water quality at Front Strand.

And the authority introduced an action plan to mitigate against the causes of poor water quality, which included water misconnections, waste water accidental releases and wastewater stormwater overflows.

Other issues identified were agricultural run-off, dog fouling, bird fouling, water pollution from oil leaks and challenges presented by heavy rain.

Dr David Begg, Chairperson of the Our Balbriggan Leadership Group, which oversees Fingal County Council’s Our Balbriggan Rejuvenation Programme, warmly welcomed the announcement.

“A lot of work has been done to address issues at Front Strand over the last five years and it is great to finally see this effort reaping positive results.

“Much has been accomplished, particularly around misconnections, and hopefully the improvement in water quality can be maintained.”

It is another boost for the Balbriggan Harbour area as work continues to deliver the major infrastructural elements of the Our Balbriggan Rejuvenation Programme.

Work is progressing on the plan’s flagship €15million project, the re-development of the Quay Street and Harbour area.

The €54-57million Our Balbriggan Rejuvenation Programme is led by Fingal County Council’s Economic, Enterprise, Tourism and Cultural Development Department.