Primary responsibility for the management and monitoring of identified bathing waters is assigned to local authorities as specified in Regulation 7 of the Bathing Water Quality Regulations 2008.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the environmental regulator who ensure that the local authorities carry out their functions under Bathing Water Regulations. As part of their role, the EPA publish an annual report on Bathing Water Quality.
The latest Bathing Water Quality report provides information about the bathing water quality in Ireland during 2021. Balbriggan, front strand beach was one of two beaches that were classified as poor in 2021. The main sources of pollution in Balbriggan are sewage discharges and misconnections; contaminated surface streams flowing through the town; and faeces from dogs, birds and other animals. In their ‘Bathing Water Management Plan for Front Strand Beach, Balbriggan’, which is available on their website ( www.fingal.ie/sites/default/files/2022-04/balbriggan-beach-management-plan-2022.pdf ), Fingal County Council provides details regarding each of the pressures on the bathing water in Balbriggan. Fouling from the bird colony in Balbriggan is listed as the 5th pressure that may pose an impact on the bathing water quality and has been cited as having a ‘low’ microbial pollution potential.
Fingal County Council is working to mitigate against bird fouling on the front strand.
