Hopes for Blue Flag at Dugort remain high

Hopes for Blue Flag at Dugort beach remain high


Anton McNulty

A NEGATIVE EPA report on the bathing quality of an Achill beach should not have an adverse affect on the renewal of its Blue Flag status.
An electrical fault at a sewerage treatment plant in the Achill village of Dugort last August resulted in the local beach receiving a poor bathing-quality status in a report published by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The Silver Strand in Dugort was one of only four bathing waters in the country that failed to comply with the minimum EU mandatory standards for bathing water. The bathing areas were monitored by the EPA, and the water at Dugort was found to have been affected by a ‘rare pumping station malfunction’.
The EPA designation prompted fears that the beach would lose its Blue Flag status, as to retain it, the beach must be compliant with the requirements and standards for excellent bathing water quality.
However, the Director of Services for Mayo County Council, Martin Keating told The Mayo News that because the EPA designation was related to an isolated incident, he does not believe the beach will lose its Blue Flag.
“The concern was raised in relation to one isolated sample in August 2013, which failed a mandatory water-quality parameter. This was the result of a pump failure at a pumping station, which was caused by a power outage after an electrical storm. It was a freak event, and the rest of the samples taken from that water last summer were of an excellent standard.
“From a water-quality point of view, the Dugort bathing water still meets the criteria and we expect that An Taisce will award a Blue Flag to the beach,” he said.
The Blue Flag scheme is administered by An Tasice, with the awarding of the flags normally announced by the Minister for the Environment at the end of May. Beaches must meet the ‘excellent’ water-quality standard to be awarded considered for the Blue Flag award. In 2013, eight beaches lost their blue flags as a result of the stricter bathing-water-quality criteria.
Achill councillor MicheΡl McNamara was also hopeful that the Dugort beach will be able to hold onto its Blue Flag status. “It is a concern and it would be unfortunate for it to lose its Blue Flag status because of an isolated incident which occurred last summer,” he said.
“We have several Blue Flags in this area, but it is the loss that can have an negative impact on an area for a short period of time. The water quality on the beaches are of a high quality, and I am hoping this will be overlooked, and it is my understanding that the criteria can allow for that,” he said.
Clifden beach also failed to comply with the minimum mandatory standards, and despite the commencement of a programme of remedial works for the nearby wastewater treatment plant, the EPA say that it is ‘unlikely to bring about significant improvements in water quality ahead of the 2016 bathing season’.
Mayo was awarded 12 Blue Flags in 2013, with five Achill Island beaches – including Dugort’s Silver Strand – receiving flags. It is hoped that the number will be increased to 13 this year, with Mr Keating saying that he anticipated the restoration of a Blue Flag at Old Head, Louisburgh.