Bathing Water Profile - Clogherhead (2015)
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Bathing Water Profile - Clogherhead (2015) Bathing Water: Clogherhead Bathing Water Code: IENBBWC025_0000_0200 Local Authority: Louth County Council River Basin District: Neagh Bann Monitoring Point: 316409E, 283213N 1. Profile Details: Profile Id: BWPR00291 Toilets Available: Yes Year Of Profile: 2015 Car Parking Available: Yes Year Of Identification 1992 Disabled Access: No Version Number: 1 First Aid Available: Yes Sensitive Area: Yes Dogs Allowed: Yes Lifesaving Facilities: No Figure 1: Bathing Water 2. Bathing Water Details: Map 1: Bathing Water Location & Extent Bathing Water location and The fishing village of Clogherhead is located on the east coast of Ireland in the County of Louth, extent: approximately 70km north of Dublin. The headland affords uninterrupted views of the Cooley and Mourne Mountains 30km to the north and to Lambay Island 35km to the south. The village is in close proximity to the historic town of Drogheda. The village developed around the fishing industry with the waters of Clogherhead reputed as being the best fishing waters in the country. The harbour, known as Port Oriel was built in 1885. It was extensively enlarged and re-opened in 2007. Main features of the Bathing Type of Bathing Water Water: Clogherhead beach is a large open sandy beach that is gently sloping. The beach is facing mainly to the east. It is bordered to the north by a small headland and the designated bathing area extends for approximately 1430 meters to the south. The beach is bordered by a carpark and caravan park to the rear. There is an area of dunes that extends from beyond the carpark along the rear of the beach. There is an area of rocks to the north (outside the designated bathing area that are partially submerged at high tide. There are two small rip currents at the north end of the beach. The bathing area is approximately 1430m in length. Flora/Fauna, Riparian Zone The riparian zone is natural (sand dunes and rocks) within the bathing area. Wildlife located here is common to all beaches in Co Louth are Razorshells, Crabs, Whelks (nb grazing tracks), limpets, Jellyfish, Sea beet, Seaweed and sand hoppers. Water Depth The beach at the bathing area is gently sloping into the sea. Tidal Range The beach is mesotidal. The approximate difference between MHWS and MLWS is 4.0m at River Boyne and 4.5m at Dundalk (Soldiers Point). Land Use Sensitive Area Max. number of visitor during a day in high season: Approx number of visitor during the bathing season: Activities available at the The Foreshore Byelaws 2003 are in existence to exclude motorized vehicles from the beach. The average Bathing Water: daily visitor numbers to this beach estimated during the bathing season is 200. Contributing catchment The topography of the land is predominantly flat at the northern end and rises up to Castlecoo Hill near details: Clogherhead only to descend back down to the Termonfeckin Valley. The head at Cloghehrhead is the most dominant feature. The bathing water area is close to an S.A.C which is located immediately to the north of the bathing area .The area is popular with day trippers from Monaghan west Meath and Louth. Also the village of Clogherhead is be a holiday destination with several caravan parks and chalets in the area surrounding the village and bathing water. Monitoring point details: X 316409 Y 283213 Reason for selection of the This was found to be the area where most number of bathers frequent. monitoring point: Water quality assessment: Bathing Water Results 2012 showed the overall status to be Good. The results can be viewed in the 2012 Bathing water report EPA.The results from 2013 show the same good status. The results from 2014 showed excellent status. 3. Identified Pressures: Map 2: Bathing Water Catchment 3.1 Potential pressures in the catchment assessed as posing no risk: Description: Local houses in the vicinity of the village that would have some form of on site effluent treatment system. Source: Waste water Treatment Systems Type: Septic Tank Short Term Pressure: No Description: Forestry Related activity including planting and clear felling Source: Forestry Type: Other Short Term Pressure: No 3.2 Potential pressures in the catchment assessed as posing risk: Description: There is a municipal Waste Water Treatment Plant which services the village of Clogherhead with a direct discharge out to sea approx 400m from the bathing area. The Waste Water Treatment plant provides secondary treatment prior to discharge. The treatment plant has sufficient capacity to for the current population equivalent 2000 p.e. There is also an emergency overflow at the treatment plant. The overflow is used here in the event of a malfunction at the Waste Water Treatment plant .There is a scheduled maintenance programme is in place for both plant equipment maintenance and sewer network cleansing Source: Waste water treatment Plant Type: Waste Water Treatment plant Short Term Pressure: Yes Nature: Moderate Risk Frequency: Infrequent Duration: < 72 hours Risk Assessment The WQI is graded at A for Clogherhead. According to the Microbial Pollution Potential grade is Methodology: considered Low. However, there is an emergency overflow at the Waste Water treatment plant. If this is used then the Microbial Pollution Potential is Moderate. Risk Assessment The Microbial Pollution Risk is considered Moderate. There would be a risk if there was a failure at Results: the WWTP Details: The Microbial Pollution Risk is considered Moderate. There would be a risk if there was a failure at the WWTP. There has been no known direct pollution incidents from the Waste Water Treatment plant. However in line with the EPA guidance on for the development of Bathing Water Profiles it has been determined that the overall risk would relate to the emergency overflow being used or a malfunction at the Plant. Management Should any short term pollution be identified the relevant authorities will be notified i.e.HSE , Irish Measures: Coast guard. Notices to be erected at the bathing area and posted on the Councils website advising of the pollution. Once the pollution is abated notice will be given to the public (website and notice at the beach) and the relevant authorities Description: Combined Sewer overflow and stream beside rocks at the north end of the bathing area beside the overflow from the pumping station. , if there is a blockage in the system the overflow may flow into the suface water pipework and into the sea at this point. Due to the proximity of this to the designated bathing area it is considered that the outfall from this location may pose a risk to bathing water quality during heavy rainfall. Source: Urban Drainage Type: Sewer Networks Short Term Pressure: Yes Nature: High Risk Frequency: 1/month Duration: < 72 hours Risk Assessment The discharge point is relatively close to the designated bathing area. The quantity discharged is Methodology: mainly dependant on the amount of rainfall and if there are any blockages within the system. If no rainfall is present then the risk to bathing waters would be very low however during heavy rainfall there may be a slight risk to bathing water. The overflow could be activated during heavy rainfall. Clogherhead WWTP has a licence which was issued by the EPA on April 2015.. As part of the conditions of the licence all storm water overflows have to be in compliance with the DoECLG Procedures and Criteria in Relation to Storm Water Overflows 1995 and any other guidance specified by the EPA..There is a scheduled maintenance programme is in place for both plant equipment maintenance and sewer network cleansing Risk Assessment The discharge point is relatively close to the designated bathing area. The quantity of the discharge Results: produced is mainly dependant on the amount of rainfall. If no rainfall is present then the risk to bathing waters would be very low however during heavy rainfall there may be a risk to bathing water. The 95 percentiles monitoring result is estimated at Water Quality Impact grade A with a value between 0-40, According to the EPA guidance on the development of bathing water profiles the Microbial Pollution Potential the overflow is considered Very High as it is a direct discharge onto the beach. Although the overflow occurs during heavy rainfall it has not impacted on the bathing water quality. However following this review a conservative approach has been taken to the pollution potential from this overflow. Therefore based on this the Microbial Pollution Potential is Severe. Details: In line with the EPA guidance on for the development of Bathing Water Profiles it has been determined that the overall risk of the overflow being used would be in cases of heavy rainfall therefore the potential for microbial pollution would be severe if the overflow is in use. Management There is a permanent notice placed at this stream advising no swimming/bathing here. The Measures: caretaker for the sewage treatment plant regularly checks the sewage lines as part of the routine maintenance. Should any short term pollution or overflow events be identified the relevant authorities will be notified i.e.HSE ,Irish Water EPA. Notices to be erected at the bathing area and posted on the Councils website advising of the pollution. Once the pollution is abated notice will be given to the public (website and notice at the beach) and the relevant authorities. Description: The beach is popular with visitors at weekends and during sunny periods over the bathing season and litter can be a problem. The litter is waste paper/plastic packaging bottles cans and may include faecal material dog faeces and nappies. Source: Litter on beach Type: Bathers Short Term Pressure: Yes Nature: Low Risk Frequency: 1/Fortnightly Duration: < 48 hours Risk Assessment Assessment undertaken during the bathing water season.