Environment watchdog says Louth County Council not obliged to carry out water testing at Blackrock beach

By Olivia Ryan, The Drogheda Independent

Louth County Council is one of a minority of local authorities not conducting tests of sea water at "popular swimming spots”, it emerged this week.

The council does monitor water quality at beaches that have been classified as ‘Designated Bathing’ areas, but has come under pressure over recent months following environmental concerns raised about water quality and an overgrowth of algal bloom along the beach at Blackrock.

Designated bathing areas are official swimming locations identified by local authorities under the Bathing Water Directive. These areas are monitored for water quality and safety during the designated bathing season, which typically runs from June to September.

Blackrock beach is not a designated bathing area, which means that, despite it being one of the most popular beaches in the county, it is not monitored for water quality.

However, the EPA has confirmed that while Louth County Council is not “obliged” to test at a beach which isn’t formally designated, the majority of local authorities are testing at undesignated “popular swimming spots,” for the purpose of “protecting public health.”

Elected representatives and local lobby groups have been calling for testing to be carried out at Blackrock beach. But Louth County Council stated at the June meeting of the council that as it is not a Designated Bathing area, testing is not carried out .

Meanwhile public fears over the water quality have continued to grow with the annual Blackrock Raft Race not being held on water.

A special meeting was held at the end of June between local councillors and council management. It was agreed that Louth County Council write to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requesting that tests are carried out at Blackrock beach.

In the letter to the EPA, the council highlighted the “growing concern about the current environmental conditions at Blackrock beach as exemplified by the accumulation of seaweed on the beach.”

The letter also highlighted “concerns among the public about potential pollution affecting our local waters,” and called on the EPA to carry out “comprehensive water testing” at the beach within five days.

Independent.ie has this week contacted the EPA to query if this testing has been conducted and to ask if the agency can take steps to alleviate public concerns.

In a reply, the EPA confirmed that it “does not carry out water testing at beaches," adding that this is “a function carried out by Local Authorities.”

The EPA further clarified: “While the beach in question is not a designated bathing water, and therefore Louth County Council are not obliged to monitor it under the regulations, the majority of local authorities with designated bathing waters also conduct monitoring at popular swimming spots that are not formally designated, for the purposes of protecting public health.”

"To assist the Local Authorities in carrying out this function, the EPA has developed capacity on our systems for this additional water monitoring information to be uploaded so it can be clearly displayed on beaches.ie. This enables the public to make informed decisions about the quality of bathing water at these locations.”

Independent.ie has reached out to Louth County Council to ask if it will, given the statement by the EPA, commence testing at Blackrock beach.

The headline on this story was amended 1t 17.05 on July 9, to reflect the fact that Louth County Council is not responsible for water testing at Blackrock beach as stated in the story.