A south Dublin beach has been hit with a swimming ban warning due to a potential E-coli overflow from a waste water treatment plant.
Sandymount Strand was issued the notice yesterday - in the middle of Dublin's prime swimming season. Local TD Chris Andrews slammed the situation as "completely unacceptable".
There is no end to the ban in sight but bathing water samples are being monitored. The "DO NOT SWIM" notice warned potential bathers that "swimming in the water may cause illnesses" due to the "possibility of high level of E-coli".
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The likely cause was cited as "an overflow at Ringsend Waste Water Treatment plant". The plant that processes Dublin's waste water has been involved in three serious "uncontrolled releases" since 2019.
E-coli infections are contagious and can be quite severe in young children. A three-year-old child died in Dublin due to an infection caused by the bacteria in 1997.
And a two week old boy was hospitalised with an e-coli infection after his older sibling has been swimming in Clare last summer, according to reports.
Sinn Fein TD Chris Andrews said: "It is completely unacceptable this day and age. During the winter we are told overflows are caused by the rain and there hasn't appeared to be a lot of rain over the last few weeks.
"I am not sure why and how this overflow would happen. It is deeply concerning this is happening during the summer."
Deputy Andrews added the Half Moon Swimming and Water Polo Club, which often hold sea swimming events half way to the Poolbeg Lighthouse, will likely be affected.
He said: "A lot of people go down there to enjoy the sea and I imagine that knocks them out." The Sinn Fein called for a "short-term" engineering solution to the problem.
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