Swimming is set to be permanently banned at Merrion Strand in Dublin due to ongoing poor water quality results, according to Dublin City Council. The south Dublin beach failed to meet minimum EU bathing water standards for four years in a row up to and including 2018. If it fails to meet the minimum standards for a fifth consecutive year, a “permanent prohibition” on bathing will be put in place. Sewage overflowAlthough beaches in Dublin Bay, including Merrion Strand, were closed several times last year due to sewage overflow at the Ringsend treatment plant, the council said the problems at Merrion Strand were largely due to polluted streams “discharging” on to the beach. Poor qualityGreen Party councillor Donna Cooney said it was likely to be several years before the issues affecting Merrion Strand were resolved.

Source: The Irish Times January 17, 2020 00:45 UTC