Dublin Bay Clean Water

The beaches and bathing areas in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown are popular swimming spots all year round; hundreds of swimmers visit Seapoint, Sandycove, the Forty Foot, Hawk’s Cliff, and Killiney every day of the year so clean bathing water is of great importance.

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Under the Bathing Water Regulations (2008), county councils have responsibilities in relation to the management of bathing areas, including identifying bathing areas, establishing bathing water profiles and monitoring water quality at each identified location, managing short-term pollution incidents and communicating health risks to swimmers.

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Water is sampled and the lab tests for both Escherichia Coli (E. coli) and Intestinal Enterococci (I.E.) and depending on the levels, authorities may be required to take certain actions to inform and manage health risks to bathers. As the constituency is in close proximity to many accessible and popular bathing spots, the testing of water and safety of swimmers is imperative.

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Improving water quality in Dublin Bay, and accurate and real time information regarding safety to swim etc, is one of my absolute top priorities for the constituency. I have been working behind the scenes on this matter for some time and has had numerous meetings with the Environmental Protection Agency, Science Foundation Ireland, various Ministers and Departments and other stakeholders, including SOS Dublin Bay.