The ongoing lack of wastewater treatment facilities in Clare has been deemed a “major concern”.
Two beaches in the county have been closed this week on advise of the HSE following elevated levels of bacteria in water samples from both locations.
Bathing prohibitions remain in place today at Spanish Point and White Strand in Miltown Malbay following the detection of a worrying level of bacteria in the water.
“Do-not-swim” notices have been erected by Clare County Council and under An Taisce regulations, both beaches’ blue flags have been replaced with red flags under such time as the situation is remedied.
With tourist season well underway, the closure of the beaches has led to much disappointment amongst locals, businesspeople and tourists alike.
The situation has led to renewed frustrations about the lack of wastewater treatment facilities across the county as Uisce Eireann believes the pollution to have been caused by agricultural run-off.
Fine Gael councillor Gabriel Keating believes the current shortage of such facilities in Clare is unacceptable.
With the beach closures coming just over a month after the Ballymacraven river pollution incident in which 2,000 fish died, the spotlight is very much on Clare’s relationship with its waters.
Leas Cathaoirleach of the West Clare Municipal District Ian Lynch believes the two incidents highlight the need for improved sewage infrastructure in the county.
You can listen to the full interview below.
