Beaches closed due to E.coli await more tests
Tourism interests will be crossing their fingers in the hope that levels of the bacteria — which are contained in excrement and can cause serious illness and even death — have dropped below permitted EU safety levels.
However, yesterday the brown discolouration was still very evident in the sea off Youghal’s Front Strand, which had E.coli levels nearly four times the legal limit.
The town’s two other beaches, Claycastle and Redbarn, were similarly murky.
E.coli levels also forced the closure of beaches at Garryvoe, Garretstown, Oysterhaven, and Coolmain near Kilbrittain.
Environmental Protection Agency records show that most beaches had low levels of E.coli following tests on Jul 16. However, these started to increase by Jul 30 and exceeded the limit last week.
Torrential rain washing slurry off the land has been blamed for the problem, along with spring tides and southerly winds which have kept the pollution inshore. The lack of a sewage treatment plant in Youghal has exacerbated the situation as raw sewage pumped into the bay was unable to leave it.
At the request of the Mayor of Co Cork, Barbara Murray, further tests will also be carried out this morning on all seven beaches.
Ms Murray, who lives in Youghal, asked for the extra tests in case the ones due out this evening prove negative.
“It takes two days for the results to come back,” she said. “So the new ones would be available on Friday and if they’re positive we can reopen the beaches for next weekend.”
Many holiday-makers shunned Youghal yesterday and headed to Co Waterford to enjoy the clear waters at Ardmore, Clonea, and Bunmahon beaches.
Hoteliers in East Cork said they had received a number of cancellations because of the contamination.
The EPA said latest tests for the west Waterford beaches showed them to be well below mandatory safe E.coli levels.
Read more:
Tourists forsake beaches of East Cork
