Bathing Water Profile - Fountainstown (2015)

Bathing Water: Fountainstown Bathing Water Code: IESWBWC050_0000_0100 Local Authority: County Council River Basin District: South Western Monitoring Point: 178620E, 58030N

1. Profile Details:

Profile Id: BWPR00301 Toilets Available: Yes Year Of Profile: 2015 Car Parking Available: Yes Year Of Identification 1992 Disabled Access: Yes Version Number: 1 First Aid Available: No Sensitive Area: No Dogs Allowed: Yes Lifesaving Facilities: No

Figure 1: Bathing Water 2. Bathing Water Details:

Map 1: Bathing Water Location & Extent

Bathing Water location and Fountainstown Beach is located approximately 7 km south east of & approximately 18km south extent: east of Cork City, Fountainstown Beach is located in Ringabella Bay in the Outer Cork Harbour Coastal Water Body (Water body Code SW_050_0000).

The bathing area is approximately 120m wide & is approx. 0.02km2 in area.

Main features of the Bathing Type of Bathing Water Water: Fountainstown Beach is an east-facing sandy/shingle beach which is bounded to the north by a low rocky cliff, with rocky outcrops to the south.

Flora/Fauna, Riparian Zone

The beach is bounded to the rear (west) by a concrete wall with the public road & car park adjoining the beach. There are a significant number of individual private dwellings & mobile homes located in the vicinity of the beach.

Water Depth

The beach is a gently sloping, sandy/shingle beach.

Tidal Range

The beach is Mesotidal with a tidal range of between 2-4m. (Tidal range at (which is nearest Standard Port shown on Irish Tide Tables) is a maximum of 4.4m

Land Use

The land use in the area immediately surrounding the beach is mainly urban fabric, consisting of individual private houses, mobile homes, the public road & a public car park.

Sensitive Area

Fountainstown Swamp which is a proposed NHA, (site code 000371), is situated to the north of the bathing water.

Max. number of visitor during a day in high season: 300

Approx number of visitor during the bathing season: 500 Activities available at the The beach is used to some extent by anglers & for windsurfing. Bathing Water:

Contributing catchment The contributing catchment of the designated bathing area is estimated at approximately 44.3 km2 in area, details: (shown on Map 2).

The catchment consists of moderately to steeply sloping hills & valleys.

The land rises up to 184m in the northern part of the catchment which is the more steeply sloping area of the catchment.

The Minane River(see Map 2), drains the majority of the contributing catchment area to the bathing water. This river flows through before it discharges into Ringabella Bay immediately to the south of the bathing water.

• The upper part of this river is identified as Waterbody SW_20_2166, (known as the Ringabella River in SWRBD Plan), & is classified as being of Poor Status due to Poor Ecological Status, with an objective to Restore by 2021. • EPA monitoring of the Minane River in 2012 showed that it had improved to a Q value of 4, which indicates Good ecological status, & good water quality in the river.

The Fountainstown stream drains the north eastern part of the catchment area, (Map 2), & discharges to the bathing area at the northern end of the beach.

• A total of 20 water samples have been taken by Cork County Council Environment Directorate from the Fountainstown stream, where it discharges to the beach, between 2012 & 2013. • The sample analysis results indicate that on each occasion the water quality in this stream discharge to the designated beach did not comply with the EU Guide Limits for E.coli in bathing waters of 100MPN/100ml as set out in the Quality of Bathing Waters Regulations, 1992 (S.I 155 of 1992)..

The samples have been taken at the point of discharge of the stream outfall onto the beach, (shown on Map 1). A summary of the sample analyses for this stream are included in the Water Quality Assessment section.

Land Use;

• The land use in the area immediately adjoining the beach is public road & car parking with a significant number of private dwelling houses & mobile homes. • The predominant land use in the wider catchment area is intensive grassland & tillage farming, with some smaller areas of forestry. • Stocking rates are relatively high in this area, however land quality is generally very good & can support these high stocking rates with good management.

Soils, Subsoils, Bedrock;

The predominant soil type in the catchment area is Acid Brown Earths/Brown Podzolic soils, with some areas of Lithosols/Regosols, the underlying subsoil is mainly Sandstone & Shales Till, with Sandstone till in the northern part of the catchment.

The bedrock in most of the catchment area is Dinantian Mudstones & Sandstones, with a small area to the north of the catchment underlain by Devonian Old Red Sandstone.

The lands in the immediate vicinity of the bathing water are classified as being of extreme groundwater vulnerability, while in the greater catchment area groundwater vulnerability ranges from High to Extreme.

The catchment area is underlain by a Poorly Productive Bedrock Aquifer.

The settlement in Fountainstown itself is the most significant population centre.

• It has greater than 125 dwelling houses or mobile homes (estimated) in the immediate vicinity of the bathing water (within 500m radius of beach). • There is no public sewer in the area & the proliferation of houses/mobile homes served by septic tanks/on-site treatment systems, many of which are located on very small sites, may pose a risk to water quality in the area.

Minane Bridge Village is located approximately 4.3km west of the designated beach.

• There are an estimated 58 dwellings located in & around the village area. • An estate of 8 houses in the older part of the village is served by a septic tank & percolation area, Contributing catchment details:

(see Map 2) • A newer housing estate of 30 houses is served by a package treatment system which discharges to a wetland area before discharging treated effluent to the Minane river, (see Map 2). • This treatment system was taken in charge by Cork County Council in November 2010. • The remaining houses in the village area should be served by on-site treatment systems.

Monitoring point details: The grid reference for the nominal bathing water monitoring point is Easting; 178620 Northing; 058030.

The precise location of the bathing water monitoring point can vary as referred to below depending on tides & weather influences.

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.

Water quality assessment: The bathing water quality monitoring carried out at Fountainstown Beach between 2003 & 2011, by Cork County Council, has shown variable water quality.

During the 2012 bathing season there were 7 occasions, (out of 14 bathing water sampling events), when E.coli levels in the bathing waters exceeded the guide value of 100MPN/100ml as set out in the Quality of Bathing Waters Regulations, 1992 (S.I 155 of 1992). 4 of these non-compliances can be associated with high rainfall levels in the previous days.

Samples were taken from the stream which discharges onto the beach on each of these 4 occasions, these stream samples all show high E.coli levels.

During the 2013 bathing season there were 2 occasions, (out of 12 bathing water sampling events), when E.coli levels in the bathing waters exceeded the guide value of 100MPN/100ml.

One of these occasions in 2013 can be associated with heavy rainfall, that is the sample on 17thJune 2013 when rainfall in the previous 72 hours was 61.7mm at Station. Again a sample was taken from the stream which discharges onto the beach on this occasion, this stream sample also showed very high E.coli levels.

During the 2014 bathing season there were 3 occasions, (out of 12 bathing water sampling events), when E.coli levels in the bathing waters exceeded the guide value of 100MPN/100ml.

Classification of Water Quality under Bathing Water Regulations 2008;

Assessment of Fountainstown bathing water under the Bathing Water Regulations 2008 (S.I. 79 of 2008), using E.coli & Intestinal Enterococci concentrations for the four-year assessment period 2011 to 2014 shows that the current classification for this bathing water is Sufficient Quality.

The Fountainstown bathing water will not qualify for Green Coast Status in 2015 based on water quality results. 3. Identified Pressures:

Map 2: Bathing Water Catchment 3.1 Potential pressures in the catchment assessed as posing no risk:

Description: Fountainstown bathing water is located approx. 3km from the mouth of Cork Harbour at Roches Point, (see Map 3).There are a number of discharges of effluent from various sources to the inner harbour area; • Treated effluent from the sewage treatment plant at Carrigrennan, which serves Cork City & environs, is discharged to inner Cork Harbour, • Untreated effluent from areas such as (Cobh), Ringaskiddy/Carrigaline/, etc., is also discharged to inner Cork Harbour.

While these discharges are a significant distance (approx. 5km) from the designated beach there may be a potential for them to impact on the beach in certain tidal & weather conditions

Source: Discharges of Sewage to Cork Harbour Type: Sewer Networks Short Term Pressure: No

Description: The toilets are located in the car park 100m from the beach. Source: Public Toilets at Fountainstown Beach Type: Septic Tank Short Term Pressure: No

Description: Waste Water Treatment System serving houses in the wider catchment area. Source: Waste Water Treatment System serving houses in the wider catchment area. Type: Septic Tank Short Term Pressure: No

Description: • An estate of eight older houses at Minane Bridge are served by this septic tank & percolation area.

Source: Minane Bridge Septic Tank & Percolation Area Type: Waste Water Treatment plant Short Term Pressure: No

Description: • A newer housing estate of 30 houses in Minane Bridge is served by a package treatment system. • This system discharges to a wetland area before discharging treated effluent to the Minane River which is 4.5km upstream of the bathing water (see Map 2). • This treatment system was taken in charge by Cork County Council in November 2010. • The treatment plant has capacity for a PE of 250, the current loading is 105 PE. • There are no pumping stations or storm overflows in the system.

Source: Minane Bridge Package Treatment Plant Type: Waste Water Treatment plant Short Term Pressure: No

3.2 Potential pressures in the catchment assessed as posing risk:

Description: • There are 3 No. mobile home/caravan/camping parks in the vicinity of the bathing water (see map no. 4) which depend on on-site treatment systems for waste water treatment. • Generally treatment systems associated with mobile home parks and caravan parks are subject to variable loadings especially during the holiday periods; Systems can become hydraulically overloaded and the quality of the discharge can deteriorate as a consequence. This can pose a risk to bathing water particularly if the discharge is to surface water.

Source: Caravan Parks and Mobile Home Parks. Type: Waste Water Treatment plant Short Term Pressure: Yes Nature: Moderate Risk Frequency: <1/month Duration: < 72 hours Risk Assessment There are 3 No. mobile home/caravan/camping parks in the vicinity of the bathing water (see map Methodology: no. 4) which depend on on-site treatment systems for waste water treatment. Generally treatment systems associated with mobile home parks and caravan parks are subject to variable loadings especially during the holiday periods; Systems can become hydraulically overloaded and the quality of the discharge can deteriorate as a consequence. This can pose a risk to bathing water particularly if the discharge is to surface water.

Risk Assessment Treatment systems associated with mobile home parks and caravan parks can become hydraulically Results: overloaded and the quality of the discharge can deteriorate as a consequence. Bathing water monitoring at this beach indicates that there is a significant risk of short term pollution of the designated waters. It is considered that waste water from the mobile home parks will impact on water quality at the beach if not adequately managed & treated. Details: Bathing water monitoring at this beach indicates that there is a significant risk of short term pollution of the designated waters. Monitoring during 2012 showed that there were 7 occasions when bathing water quality failed the E.coli guide limits of 100mpn/100ml (as set out in the Quality of Bathing Waters Regulations, 1992 (S.I 155 of 1992)), heavy rainfall was associated with 4 out of 7 of these occasions. There were 2 non compliances in 2013. It is considered that heavy rainfall events may result in the flushing of partially treated effluent, from on-site wastewater treatment systems, to the bathing water area via groundwater discharge.

Management • If heavy rain is anticipated warning notices will be erected on the beach together with incident Measures: notification to EPA. The public will be informed through the Council website & other media. • Information on the risk, likely frequency, & nature of short term pollution events caused by pressures on the bathing water will be provided on the beach notice boards as part of the summary beach profile. • In the event that bathing water quality is found to be unsatisfactory the public will be advised of this by way of public notices at the beach & will be informed through the Council website & other media. • In the event of a STP incident at the beach the local Council personnel who deal with the beach will carry out an inspection of the potential pollution sources to the beach as per agreed protocol, any pressures identified will be followed up & resolved if possible. • The nature, capacity & adequacy of the on-site treatment systems serving these mobile home parks is being investigated by Cork County Council Environment Directorate. • Operators will be required to carry out remedial works to ensure that the treatment systems are operating satisfactorily, & that the treated effluent does not pose a risk to bathing waters. • Cork County Council is the responsible body for implementing these actions

Description: • The settlement in Fountainstown itself is the most significant population centre in the catchment with approximately 95 mobile homes and 60 dwellings (estimated) in the immediate vicinity of the bathing water, (within 500m radius of beach). • There is no public sewer in the area & the proliferation of houses/mobile homes served by septic tanks/on-site treatment systems, many of which are located on very small sites, may pose a risk to water quality in the area.

Source: On site Waste Water Treatment Systems in the vicinity of the Bathing Water Area Type: Septic Tank Short Term Pressure: Yes Nature: Moderate Risk Frequency: <1/month Duration: < 72 hours Risk Assessment • The lands in the immediate vicinity of the bathing water are classified as being of extreme Methodology: groundwater vulnerability. • The predominance of relatively free draining soils in the vicinity of the bathing water, indicates that there will be high percolation rates in the area. • The EPA have identified in the DWWTS National Inspection Plan that domestic waste water treatment systems (DWWTS) or septic tanks in the vicinity of the bathing area pose a Very High Risk to waters • In Fountainstown there are approximately 60 dwellings in the vicinity of the bathing water in addition to the mobile home parks. • In general the sites on which these dwellings are located are very small with limited space for percolation areas. • These dwellings may pose a direct risk to the bathing water.

Risk Assessment • It is considered that heavy rainfall events may result in the flushing of partially treated effluent, Results: from on-site wastewater treatment systems, to the bathing water area via groundwater discharge. • Inspection of the foreshore to the south west & the north of the bathing water (adjoining lands where dwellings are located), did not identify any visual evidence of direct discharges of sewage effluent onto the foreshore. • The natural flow-path of groundwater in the area is to the foreshore adjoining the bathing water.

Details: • Bathing water monitoring at this beach indicates that there is a significant risk of short term pollution of the designated waters. • Monitoring during 2012 showed that there were 7 occasions when bathing water quality failed the E.coli guide limits of 100mpn/100ml (as set out in the Quality of Bathing Waters Regulations, 1992 (S.I 155 of 1992)), heavy rainfall was associated with 4 of these occasions. • It is considered that these treatment systems in the vicinity of the bathing water are a potential pressure on bathing water quality.

Management • If heavy rain is anticipated warning notices will be erected on the beach together with incident Measures: notification to EPA. The public will be informed through the Council website & other media. • Information on the risk, likely frequency, & nature of short term pollution events caused by pressures on the bathing water will be provided on the beach notice boards as part of the summary beach profile. • In the event that bathing water quality is found to be unsatisfactory the public will be advised of this by way of public notices at the beach & will be informed through the Council website & other media. • In the event of a STP incident at the beach the local Council personnel who deal with the beach will carry out an inspection of the potential pollution sources to the beach as per agreed protocol, any pressures identified will be followed up & resolved if possible. • Under the DWWTS National Inspection Plan Cork County Council is currently running an information campaign to make the public aware of the risks to waters from unsatisfactory waste water treatment plants, & to encourage good management of such systems. • Since the first bathing water profile was issued in 2011 a number of poorly functioning domestic waste water treatment systems have been identified by the Environment Directorate in the vicinity of the bathing water, & measures are being taken by the property owners to carry out the necessary remedial works. • The Environment Directorate will continue to deal with any poorly functioning domestic waste water treatment systems which are identified in the area. • Cork County Council is the responsible body for implementing these actions.

Description: • The wider catchment area is predominantly an agricultural area with relatively intensive grassland & tillage farming, & high stocking rates. • Slurry from local farms is landspread within the catchment.

Source: Agriculture in the catchment Type: Run off from agricultural land Short Term Pressure: Yes Nature: High Risk Frequency: <1/month Duration: < 72 hours Risk Assessment • Agriculture in the catchment is moderate to intensive grassland & tillage farming, with relatively Methodology: high stocking rates (CSO Census of Agriculture 2010). • The relatively free draining soils will minimize the risk of run-off from landspreading subject to farmers complying with best practice. • However there are relatively steep slopes in the catchment area which increases the risk of run-off from the lands in heavy rainfall, this run-off potential is further increased if rainfall occurs when the soils are saturated. Risk Assessment • The SWRBD Plan states that the river waterbody in the catchment area Minane River Results: (SW_20_2166) is at significant Risk from Agriculture. However the most recent EPA Biological assessment of the Minane River showed a Q value of 4 in 2012 which indicates good river water quality • Water quality results from sampling of the Fountainstown Stream indicate that it is subject to high bacterial loadings. This is indicative of intensive agriculture in the Fountainstown Stream catchment area. • Water quality analysis carried out on the identified beach during the 2012 & 2013 bathing seasons indicates that there is pressure on water quality in the catchment following periods of heavy rainfall. • Agriculture is the predominant land use in the area & it is considered that agriculture is having an impact on water quality in the catchment and thus on water quality at the designated bathing water particularly following periods of heavy rainfall. • Small Stream Risk Score (SSRS) assessments were carried out the Minane River & on the Fountainstown Stream in 2012. The Minane River returned high scores in the “Probably not at Risk” category with stonefly and mayfly present, (indicators of good water quality). The Fountainstown stream was more varied, some scores were high scores while the score at the upper reaches of the stream indicated that this area was “at risk”.

Details: • Bathing water monitoring at this beach indicates that there is a significant risk of short term pollution of the designated waters. • Monitoring during 2012 showed that there were 7 occasions when bathing water quality failed the E.coli guide limits of 100mpn/100ml (as set out in the Quality of Bathing Waters Regulations, 1992 (S.I 155 of 1992)), heavy rainfall was associated with 4 out of 7 of these occasions. • There were 2 occasions in 2013 when bathing water quality failed the E.coli guide limits of 100mpn/100ml (as set out in the Quality of Bathing Waters Regulations, 1992 (S.I 155 of 1992)). One of these non-compliances can be associated with a very heavy rainfall event. • The extreme rainfall events which occurred during the bathing season of 2012 impacted significantly on water quality at Fountsainstown Beach.

It is considered that agriculture in the catchment area will have an impact on water quality at the bathing water for the following reasons; • Steep slopes in the catchment area increases the risk of run-off from the lands during period of heavy rainfall, • Water quality results for 2012 & 2013 clearly indicate that following periods of heavy rainfall the Fountainstown stream, which flows onto the bathing area, can carry very high levels of E.coli, particularly when soils are saturated . • Agriculture is a significant potential source of this E.coli in the catchment area. Heavy rainfall events, and saturated soils, provide a pathway to the bathing water. • At this time it is considered that the farmyards do not pose a significant risk to water quality in the catchment streams or to water quality at the bathing water (subject to ongoing good farm management). The risk is run-off from farm lands.

Management • If heavy rain is anticipated warning notices will be erected on the beach together with incident Measures: notification to EPA. The public will be informed through the Council website & other media. • Information on the risk, likely frequency, & nature of short term pollution events caused by pressures on the bathing water will be provided on the beach notice boards as part of the summary beach profile. • In the event that bathing water quality is found to be unsatisfactory the public will be advised of this by way of public notices at the beach & will be informed through the Council website & other media. • In the event of a STP incident at the beach the local Council personnel who deal with the beach will carry out an inspection of the potential pollution sources to the beach as per agreed protocol, any pressures identified will be followed up & resolved if possible. • Cork County Council Environment Directorate has carried out a programme of farm inspections in the catchment. All farms in the catchment have now been inspected to ensure pollution risk is minimized. • Letters have issued to all farmers and follow up inspections are ongoing to those with works to be done. • The Environment Directorate will continue to monitor farming activities in the catchment area.

Cork County Council is the responsible body for implementing these actions

3.3 Other Risks:

Assessment of the potential for proliferation Not Applicable of cyanobacteria: Proposed management measures for N/A cyanobacteria:

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

Proposed management measures for N/A macroalgae: Assessment of the potential for proliferation Monitoring of the beach indicates that there is no significant potential for proliferation of Marine of marine phytoplankton: Phytoplankton on this beach.

Proposed management measures for marine N/A phytoplankton:

Additional Information: Name of beach operator responsible for the beach management:

Mr. Brendan Fehily, Senior Executive Engineer, Phone 021 4772137 Fax; 021 4773128

[email protected]

Cork County Council, , Co.Cork.

Mr. Charlie McCarthy, Senior Executive Engineer, Phone; 023 8841181

[email protected]

Area Engineers Office, Cork County Council, Bandon, Co.Cork.

Contact for Routine Sampling Issues/Bathing Water Analytical Results;

David Sheehan, [email protected] Phone 021 4532702, Fax 021 4532777

Eliz Hipwell, [email protected] Phone 021 4532718, Fax 021 4532777

Environmental Directorate, Cork County Council, Inniscarra, Co.Cork.

4 Bathing Water Status From Previous Sampling Years:

2011 2012 2013 2014 Fountainstown Good Poor Good Sufficient

5 Contact Details:

Contact: Cork County Council Email: [email protected] Address: Environmental Directorate, Inniscarra, Co. Cork Phone: 021 4532700