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THE public has been advised not to swim on Ballybunion beaches until further notice, after elevated levels of ecoli were detected in the water on Monday.
The most recent tests on water quality taken at Ballybunion north and south beaches (known locally as the Men’s and Ladies beaches) on Monday last indicate an elevated level of ecoli associated with bacterial input from the catchment associated with the very high rainfall on Saturday last.
The Valentia Met station recorded 28.9 mm of rainfall on Saturday last. The impact of catchments at times of high rainfall on bathing water quality is a common occurrence at this time of year associated with heavy rainfall .
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Accordingly, the Council is obliged to erect bathing prohibition notices at Ballybunion north and south beaches advising the public that they should not swim at these beaches until the further water sample which has been taken this morning is tested and the results available in the next day or two.
Kerry County Council carries out testing of designated bathing waters during the bathing season from June to September .
The bathing waters at beaches in Kerry can be impacted by heavy rainfall in the catchments which can then collect and deposit bacteria mainly from animal faeces at the river outflows close to our beaches.
In instances where the levels of bacteria arising from testing exceed stated levels in the bathing water regulations we are obliged by the HSE to erect bathing notices to protect public health.
