The Do Not Swim Prohibition Notice at Front Strand Balbriggan remains in place

The most recent bathing water sample results from testing on 15th August indicate poor status for Front Strand Balbriggan.

Fingal County Council has consulted with the HSE and the temporary Do Not Swim prohibition notice will remain in place until such time as we can collect a satisfactory end of incident sample.

Bathing water quality results from resample taken on Monday 15th August, at Front Strand, Balbriggan met the standard for poor water quality.

The prohibition notice remains in place and has been extended until 31st August.

The Council is continuing their investigations into the likely source of contamination at the bathing water.

• Tracing of the source of contamination in the surface water pipe discharging to the River Bracken is ongoing and the search area has narrowed.
• Additional river sampling at various locations is continuing as well as visual monitoring of the surface water pipe.

In the meantime Front Strand remains open and the Balbriggan Beach Activity Festival will go ahead as planned on Sunday 14 August.

Beach users are asked to respect the ‘Do Not Swim’ 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.

To view an explanation of the standards used for reporting results of bathing water please go to

The most recent bathing water sample results from testing on 15th August indicate poor status for Front Strand Balbriggan.

Fingal County Council has consulted with the HSE and the temporary Do Not Swim prohibition notice will remain in place until such time as we can collect a satisfactory end of incident sample.

Bathing water quality results from resample taken on Monday 15th August, at Front Strand, Balbriggan met the standard for poor water quality.

The prohibition notice remains in place and has been extended until 31st August.

The Council is continuing their investigations into the likely source of contamination at the bathing water.

• Tracing of the source of contamination in the surface water pipe discharging to the River Bracken is ongoing and the search area has narrowed.
• Additional river sampling at various locations is continuing as well as visual monitoring of the surface water pipe.

In the meantime Front Strand remains open and the Balbriggan Beach Activity Festival will go ahead as planned on Sunday 14 August. Beach users are asked to respect the ‘Do Not Swim’ 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.

To view an explanation of the standards used for reporting results of bathing water please go to  https://www.fingal.ie/bathing-water-quality-monitoring-faqs