Bathing Water Profile - Rosslare Strand (2017)

Bathing Water: Rosslare Strand Bathing Water Code: IESEBWC010_0000_0100 Local Authority: County Council River Basin District: South Eastern Monitoring Point: 310265E, 114690N

1. Profile Details: Amenities Profile Id: BWPR00403 Beach activity zones No Year Of Profile: 2017 Beach Information No board Year Of Identification 1992 Beach Wheelchair No Version Number: 1 Car free zone No

Figure 1: Bathing Water Cars allowed on beach No Cars not allowed on No beach Disability Access Yes Dogs allowed on lead No Dogs not allowed Yes First Aid Yes Lifebuoy at beach No Lifeguarded zone No Litter Bin No Natural Sensitive Area No Near Public Transport No Parking Yes Recycling facilities No Toilets Yes 2. Bathing Water Details:

Map 1: Bathing Water Location & Extent

Bathing Water location and Location; extent: The beach at Rosslare Strand (Irish: Ros Láir, meaning "the middle peninsula") comprises of sand and stone running the length of the southern peninsula which protrudes into . The main beach is accessed by various walkways and its main access point is from the main car park. The beach is segmented by a series of main breakwaters which were designed to retain sandy deposits along the beach.

Rosslare has been a tourist resort for at least 100 years. Rosslare is commonly known in Ireland as being in the "Sunny South-East", and in 1959 Rosslare recorded 1,996.4 hours of sunshine, the highest recorded in Ireland. Rosslare receives 300 hours more sunshine each year than the average place in Ireland. The long sandy strand is a Blue Flag beach so it attracts swimmers and families, while there are a number of good golf courses in the vicinity. The Dublin to railway passes through the village. Rosslare has good hotels and restaurants.

A long sand spit stretching north from Rosslare separates Wexford Harbour from the . Until the early 1920s, this spit stretched for over 6 km north of the village, almost touching the Raven Point and giving a very narrow mouth to Wexford Harbour. At the end of the spit was a small fort called Rosslare Fort. In the winter of 1924-25 a storm breached the spit and it was gradually washed away. The fort was abandoned and now all that is left is an island at low tide. Most maps of Ireland, however, still show the long spit of sand. In the 1990’s, a major beach replenishment/stabilization project was carried out, involving the construction of 13 rock armour groynes and the importation of sand from offshore banks and its deposition along the length of the spit to the north of the identified bathing area.

Extent;

The bathing area is approximately 0.5 km long. The bathing water is approximately 0.1 km2 in area.

Main features of the Bathing Type of Bathing Water; Water: A safe urban fine-sand beach, Rosslare Strand has had Blue Flag status since 2004. The sand type is soft and wind blown. Deposition offshore into a series of sand-banks offers protection to the beach.

Flora/Fauna, Riparian Zone;

The sand dunes extent is narrow to the rear (west) of the beach. The public road runs along the rear of the sand dunes. There is no significant vegetation growing in the waters off the beach.

Water Depth;

The beach is a relatively gently sloping, sandy beach. Main features of the Bathing Water:

Tidal range;

The beach is Microtidal with a tidal range of less than 2m.

Land Use;

The land use in the area immediately surrounding the bathing water is urban fabric consisting of private domestic dwellings & holiday accommodation and facilities.

The coastal amenities of the area have resulted in the development of the village as a seaside resort with day-trip and holiday-based functions. These include golf, tennis, water sports, angling, horse riding and walking. There is also a well equipped children’s play ground.

Local Sites of Interest;

Wexford Wildfowl Reserve, North Slob, Wexford, is Ireland's Premier Wildfowl Reserve. The Wexford Slobs and Harbour are a natural haven for birds. Situated on the coast, and in sight of the southeast corner of Ireland, it is the closest point to Britain and the continent for birds that are migrating into or out of Ireland from a southerly direction. Waders and wildfowl in particular, are attracted to the area where the flat landscape is accentuated by a number of complementary characteristics that create a safe place to feed, loaf, roost and breed. These features are dominated by the wide shallow harbour with its sandbars and mud-banks. To the north and south of the harbour are the large areas of reclaimed lands known as the Slobs.

Rosslare Sand hills are also an area of Ecological Importance.

The average daily maximum number of persons on the beach during the bathing season is approximately 175

The season maximum number of persons on the beach during the bathing season is approximately 575

Activities available at the Activities; Bathing Water: Rosslare Strand beach is also a popular fishing spot. The beach is also used by a limited number of surfers, windsurfers and canoeists.

Facilities;

Public car parking, town street parking and car park with 2 disabled spaces.

There is a viewing point at the beach which is accessed by wooden walkway from the car park.

Male, Female and disabled toilet available all year.Universal key is required to gain access to the accessible toilets. Outdoor shower available.

Life guards are on duty on site during summer months.

There is a children’s play ground near the beach.

Contributing catchment Description of the Contributing Catchment: details: Rosslare Strand Beach is located in the townland of Doogans Warren (ED Rosslare), approximately 8.5 km south east of the Wexford Town in .

The beach is situated in the south east of Wexford in the South Eastern River Basin District.

Contributing Catchment;

The contributing catchment of the bathing area is approximately 117 km² in area.

Water Bodies draining to Bathing Area;

There are no water bodies draining to the bathing area. There are surface water outfall discharging into soak pits in the sand dunes/beach.

Topography;

The catchment consists of gently sloping hills and valleys.

Land Use;

Land use in the immediate vicinity of Rosslare Strand Beach consists of tourist resort village with urban Contributing catchment details:

development, residential housing, holiday homes and caravan parks, agriculture and recreational open space including golf courses.

Rosslare Strand acts as a service centre for the surrounding area. It has a range of commercial and retail services which include, shops, restaurants, hotels and pubs.

Soils, Subsoils & Bedrock;

The aquifer is Poor productive bedrock to the south and Productive Fissured bedrock to the north.

The beach area:

Soil type; Aeolian Undifferentiated

Subsoil type; Brown Sands

Bedrock; Grey to black mudstones with siltstones

General Catchment Area:

Soil type; Derived from mainly acidic parent materials or from mainly basic parent materials.

Subsoil type; Sandstone and shale till (Cambrian_Precambrian) or Limestone till (Carboniferous)

with matrix of Irish Sea Basin origin

Bedrock; From north to south, Pale grey limestones often dolomitised to Oolitic limestones

locally dolomitised to Pale grey limestones often dolomitised to Grey to black

mudstones with siltstones to Shale siltstone sandstone minor tuffs to Banded

quartzo-feldspathic paragneisses.

Formal designations;

Rosslare Strand currently holds the Blue Flag Award (2016).

Local Protected Areas

Raven Point Nature Reserve SAC

Rosslare Sand hills

Wexford Slobs And Harbour pNHA

The Raven SPA

Population Centres;

During the summer months the population of Rosslare Strand rises substantially when the caravan parks and holiday homes and hotels are fully occupied.

Rainfall;

Rosslare Pier:

Closest weather station - Grid Ref. 313441W 112298N - Distance from beach: 4 km - Mean annual rainfall: 877 mm - Month with highest mean: November & December, 98 mm - Month with lowest mean: June & July, 51 mm

Johnstown Castle:

Grid Ref. 302420W 116621N - Distance from beach: 8km - Mean annual rainfall: 1060mm - Month with highest mean: October, 122mm - Month with lowest mean: May, 67mm

Monitoring point details: The grid reference for the nominal bathing water monitoring point is 310265W 114690N.

The precise location of the bathing water monitoring point can vary depending on tides & weather influences but is always within the area patrolled by the Lifeguards. This area is marked by the Lifeguards flags. Reason for selection of the The location of the bathing water monitoring point is the location where most bathers are expected to use monitoring point: the bathing water.

The bathing water monitoring point location chosen is always within the area patrolled by the Lifeguards. This area can vary somewhat on this beach depending on tidal & weather influences and is marked by the Lifeguards flags.

Water quality assessment: Bathing Water Quality Results for the 2013 to 2016 Bathing Seasons

In accordance with the Bathing Water Regulations 2008 (S.I. 79 of 2008) Rosslare Strand achieved Excellent Water Quality Status from 2013 to 2016. 3. Identified Pressures:

Map 2: Bathing Water Catchment

3.1 Potential pressures in the catchment assessed as posing no risk:

Description: Point Source;

There are three surface water pipes out falling to soak pits on the identified bathing area beach at Rosslare Strand. The soak pits are regularly checked and refurbished as necessary with the last major refurbishment carried out in 2009. There are no foul/surface water cross connections.

Source: Three surface water pipes out falling to soak pits on the identified bathing area Type: Sewer Networks Short Term Pressure: No

Description: Diffuse Source; Horse fouling is a source of bacteria that can lead to pollution at beaches. Source: Horse Fouling Type: Domestic animals on beach Short Term Pressure: No

Description: Diffuse Source; Dog fouling is a source of bacteria that can lead to pollution at beaches. Source: Dog Fouling Type: Domestic animals on beach Short Term Pressure: No 3.2 Potential pressures in the catchment assessed as posing risk:

Description: Point Source; Rosslare Strand Wastewater Treatment Plant

Rosslare Strand Wastewater Treatment Plant is situated to the west of Rosslare Strand Village, and discharges treated effluent to St. Georges Channel, via a long sea outfall. The Rosslare Strand collection network is a partially combined network, with 3 main pumping stations on the network and a number of smaller pumping stations, some of which are in private ownership. Rosslare Strand Wastewater Treatment Plant treats the sewage generated in the greater Rosslare Strand village and Environs and is operated by Irish Water. The town’s foul sewer system is equipped with telemetry which facilitates the early detection of any malfunctions.

Rosslare Strand Wastewater Treatment Plant provides secondary treatment with disinfection consisting of chloros dosing at 9mg/l to wastewater which is already receiving secondary treatment via the high rate activated sludge and extended aeration process. The Wastewater Treatment Plant is designed to produce a standard of effluent, which is in compliance with Section 7, Subsection B of the Urban Wastewater Directive. It is designed to produce effluent to a standard of 25 mg/l BOD and 35 mg/l Suspended Solids up to a plant loading rate of 4,000 P.E. For loading rates of 4,000 person equivalent up to the maximum design loading of 7,500 person equivalent, the plant design effluent standard is 50mg/l BOD and 70 mg/l Suspended Solids.

The plant discharges to sea by outfall pipe, approximately 1.5 km from the nearest point of the identified bathing area.

Source: Rosslare Strand Wastewater Treatment Plant Type: Waste Water Treatment plant Short Term Pressure: Yes Nature: Low Risk Frequency: Infrequent Duration: < 72 hours Risk Assessment The risk assessment methodology is as recommended in the EPA Guidance for Development of Methodology: Bathing Water Profiles

Risk Assessment The Microbial Pollution Potential is estimated at Low based on small population, assumed short Results: outfall pipe and secondary treatment with disinfection. The 95 percentiles monitoring result for Intestinal Enterococci is 69 which equates to a Water Quality Impact grade B. Therefore the Microbial Pollution Risk Assessment is estimated as Low. This result is consistent with the water quality results obtained at Rosslare Strand during all recent Blue Flag water quality monitoring since 2003. Details: The Microbial Pollution Potential of the Treatment Plant is estimated at Low when the plant is fully operational or Moderate if the plant was not operating at all. While Rosslare Waste Water Treatment Plant is operated and maintained at the highest standard, a break down at the Treatment Plant could cause pollutants to discharge at coast which could affect the bathing area. Management The town’s foul sewer system is equipped with telemetry which facilitates the early detection of any Measures: malfunctions.

Sould an incident occur, will discuss the situation with the HSE and all measures recommended and agreed will be implemented. This may include the erection of an "Advice Against Bathing Notice" or a "Warning No Swim Notice" at the beach. The beach Life Guards may also fly the swimming not safe Red Flags at the beach to advise bathers that a "Notice" is in force. All notices will be posted on the Wexford County Council website. The Council ‘Map Alert’ system will be used to inform people in the local area and a press statement will be issued to local radio. Notices will also be posted on the SPLASH website.

Additional bathing water samples will be taken and analysed to monitor the duration and extent of the incident and to confirm the end of the incident.

Wexford County Council will take carry out investigations to ascertain the cause of the incident and implement all recommended measures, repairs and maintenance to minimise the risk of further incidents.

3.3 Other Risks: Assessment of the potential for proliferation Ongoing monitoring of the beach indicates that there is no significant potential for proliferation of of cyanobacteria: Cyanobacteria on this beach.

Proposed management measures for If an outbreak were detected then Wexford County Council would determine the concentration cyanobacteria: and extent of the proliferation, monitor the bathing area and react accordingly.

Assessment of the potential for proliferation Ongoing monitoring of the beach indicates that there is no significant potential for proliferation of of macroalgae: Macroalgae on this beach.

Proposed management measures for If an outbreak were detected then Wexford County Council would determine the concentration macroalgae: and extent of the proliferation, monitor the bathing area and react accordingly.

Assessment of the potential for proliferation There have been approximately 5 reports of proliferations of Marine Phytoplankton over the last of marine phytoplankton: ten years or so. Following a report of a slick and some foaming in the the sea waters in the area in May 2010 and June 2013 samples were taken for analysis. The samples contained a bloom of Phaeocystis globosa/pouchettii at moderate levels. This species is known to discolour sea water and result in foaming. It is also very typical of the early summer phytoplankton flora in coastal regions across Europe. A unique attribute of Phaeocystis is its ability to form a floating colony with hundreds of cells embedded in a polysaccharide gel marix that can multiply massively during blooms. This can in some cases result in a slick like appearance on the surface of the water and is also responsible for the production of foaming.

There are no reports of adverse affects other than aesthetic regarding impact on bathing waters. This is mainly due to the production in some cases of excessive foam, murky water and sometimes the production of noxious odours when dense blooms are breaking down. The blooms usually disappear within a week or so in Irish waters and this breakdown is as sudden as their appearance.

Proposed management measures for marine If an outbreak were detected then Wexford County Council would determine the concentration phytoplankton: and extent of the proliferation, monitor the bathing area and react accordingly.

Additional Information: None

4 Bathing Water Status From Previous Sampling Years:

2013 2014 2015 2016 Rosslare Strand Good Quality Excellent Excellent Excellent Quality Quality Quality

5 Contact Details:

Contact: Wexford County Council Email: [email protected] Address: Wexford County Council, Bathing Water, Carricklawn, Wexford Phone: 053 9196313