Beach users have been advised to take care while swimming at three north Dublin beaches hit by sewage pollution.
Fingal County Council issued a precautionary notice this evening after heavy overnight rain caused what it called a “short-term overflow event” from a pump station in Portmarnock.
Swimmers at the affected beaches in Portmarnock, Claremont and Sutton have been warned to:
- Avoid swallowing or splashing water
- Wash their hands before handling food
- Avoid swimming while pregnant
- Avoid swimming with an open wound or weakened immune system
The advice comes after swimming was temporarily banned at four other Dublin beaches due to a suspected sewage discharge.
The 72-hour warning, issued on Saturday, covers the Balbriggan, Skerries, Loughshinny and Rush beaches.
Water samples were taken at all seven locations today and sent for testing, with results due back before the end of the week.
Fingal County Council said it welcomed Irish Water plans to decommission the existing septic tank at Loughshinny and upgrade the sewerage network in Rush.
It advised members of the public planning to swim at any beach in Ireland to check water quality levels on the EPA website or noticeboard at the entrance to each beach.
