Beaches face bathing ban as heavy rain ups e.coli risk

Swimming bans could be put in place at a number of beaches in Co Cork in the coming days if heavy rainfall sweeps slurry into the sea and raises e.coli bacteria to excessive levels.

Following advice from the HSE, Cork County Council yesterday put up warning notices at 14 beaches along the coast advising the public that water conditions might deteriorate to an extent that they exceeded permissible EU levels for the bacteria.

Officials said forecasts of heavy rain yesterday and again today meant there was a likelihood of contaminants being washed into the sea.