Bathing Water Profile - , the Brook Beach (2017)

Bathing Water: Portrane, the Brook Beach Bathing Water Code: IEEABWC020_0000_0200 Local Authority: Fingal County Council River Basin District: Eastern Monitoring Point: 325664E, 251104N

1. Profile Details:

Profile Id: BWPR00388 Toilets Available: Yes Year Of Profile: 2017 Car Parking Available: Yes Year Of Identification 1992 Disabled Access: No Version Number: 1 First Aid Available: Yes 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 Location and Extent: extent: Portrane, the Brook Beach is located approximately 25 km north of City Centre, in Fingal, North . The beach is located approximately 0.5km east of the village centre. The beach forms part of the Portrane Peninsula and Rogerstown Estuary.

The identified bathing area is approximately 0.4 km long and 0.04 km2in area; however the beach extends beyond thisand is approximately 1.5km long.

Main features of the Bathing Beach Description: The Brook Beach, Portrane is a gently sloping beach, on the seaward side of the Water: sand and shingle bar that comprises Portrane Peninsula.

The Brook Beach extends in to the north direction and becomes the Burrow Beach, which is made up of a series of sand dune ridges running from north to south. The dunes vary in their stage of development from early to established with examples of embryonic, mobile and fixed dunes in evidence.

There are strong currents at the north end of the beach.

Flora/Fauna/Riparian Zone: The northern tip of Portrane Beach is the largest roosting site for the migratory birds in Rogestown outer estuary. Hundreds and sometimes thousands of birds such as Oystercatchers, Redshanks, Brent Goose and Knots are resting here during high tides. It is also home to two rare breeding birds: the Little Tern and the Ringed Plover. These birds nest unobtrusively among the pebbles and the sand on the beach.

LambayIsland, which is just off Portrane’s coast, is the largest island on the east coast and has the biggest seabird colony inIreland. More than 87,000 birds breed here every summer, the bulk of which comprises of Razorbills, Kittiwakes and Guillemots.

Portrane Beachis a part of Rogerstown Estuary which is a designated Special Protection Area (SPA) and Special Area of Conservation (SAC).

Detailed information regarding the wild life in Portane is available on the website:www.fingalbiodiversity.ie

Water Depth/Tidal Range: The estimated depth of the bathing water is 2.0m this fluctuates with the tides. Land use: The land use in the area immediately surrounding the beach is marked as complex cultivation pattern which is typical for agricultural use.

Approximately number of visitors: The average daily visitor numbers to the beach during the bathing season is approximately 30. Activities available at the Swimming, Canoeing, Fishing Bathing Water:

Contributing catchment Location and Extent: Portrane, the Brook Beach is located in Water Framework Directive Delvin – details: Coastal /Coastal catchment area. The Coastal Donabate catchment is approximately 30.2 km2 .However, the contributing catchment area is limited to the south part of Portrane village.

Water Bodies Draining to Bathing Area: There are two local streams/surface water discharging nearby or directly to the beach. The quality of water in Rogerstown Estuary may influence the water quality in the area.

Topography: The contributing catchment area is mainly flatland, gently rolling to the east. The catchment sharply slopes up, ending by rocky cliffs.

Land Use: The catchment immediately surrounding the beach is mainly urban in nature.

Soils, Subsoil, Bedrock: Limestone till (Carboniferous) is the main soil type in the catchment area whereas the predominant bedrock type is Dinantian Upper Impure Limestone.

A Locally Important Aquifer-Bedrock, generally moderately productive only in Local Zones, underlies the catchment area.

Formal Designated Area: Rogerstown Estuary, of which the Brook Beach is part of is designated a Special Protection Area (SPA) and Special Area of Conservation (SAC). The Estuary is a Wildlife Sanctuary. LambayIsland, located approximately 5.0km from the beach to the east is a designated Special Protection Area (SPA) and Special Area of Conservation (SAC).PortraneShore, which lies near by is proposed Natural Heritage Area (pNHA).

Population Centres:PortraneVillage, St. Ita’s Hospital and Donabate.

Monitoring point details: The grid reference for the nominated bathing water monitoring point is: 325664.0181E 251104.2381N

Reason for selection of the The location of the monitoring point is the location where the most bathers are expected to use the bathing monitoring point: water.

Water quality assessment: Bathing water quality monitoring has been carried out at Portrane, the Brook Beach since 1996.

Bathing Water Classification

2016 - Poor

2015 - Good

2014 - Excellent

2013 - Good 3. Identified Pressures:

Map 2: Bathing Water Catchment

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

Description: The Wastewater Treatment Plant at Portrane commenced operations in 2012 and has a P.E. of 60k. Source: Wastewater treatment plant Type: Waste Water Treatment plant Short Term Pressure: No

Description: Birds congregating at low tide within the identified area Source: Birds Type: Bird colony Short Term Pressure: No

3.2 Potential pressures in the catchment assessed as posing risk:

Description: There are 2 surface water discharges to the identified bathing area. Source: Misconnections to the surfacewater system Type: Other Short Term Pressure: Yes Nature: Moderate Risk Frequency: occasional Duration: < 24 hours Risk Assessment There may be misconnections to the surface water system in the vicinity of Portrane which may Methodology: impact on the bathing water quality.

Risk Assessment Risk from misconnections to surface water and overflows within the foul network to surface water Results: are ongoing. Details: Risk is highest after heavy rainfall events Management Monitoring of the surface water discharges to the Brook is conducted throughout each bathing Measures: season. Description: There are three Pump Stations serving the Portrane Treatment Plant. The Pump Station posing the highest estimated risk to quality of bathing water is located at St. Ita’s Hospital. In the event of an overflow effluent from the Pump Station discharges to the Irish Sea via the old WWTP outfall. The Pump Station and outfall are located approximately 2km to the south of the bathing area, along the coast. Source: Pumping Station Type: Other Short Term Pressure: Yes Nature: Moderate Risk Frequency: occasional Duration: < 24 hours Risk Assessment Methodology is in accordance with the Microbial Pollution Potential (MPP) Grades for sewage Methodology: outfalls adapted from WHO 2003 - detailed in the EPA Guidance document ‘Guidance for Development of Bathing Water Profiles for Bathing Water Quality Regulations 2008 (July 2010). Risk Assessment The risk of microbial impact on the designated bathing water from the pump station may be Results: significant as sewage discharges via a short outfall to the Sea, immediately west of the bathing area. The MPP has been assessed as HIGH in accordance with the Microbial Pollution Potential (MPP) Grades for sewage outfalls adapted from WHO 2003 - detailed in the EPA Guidance document ‘Guidance for Development of Bathing Water Profiles for Bathing Water Quality Regulations 2008 (July 2010). Details: The risk is highest during and after heavy rainfall events. Management All pumping stations are on a telemetry system which allows for notification of and rapid response to Measures: overflows from the Pumping Stations. There are also frequent inspections and maintenance of equipment at the Pumping Stations. Site inspections shall be increased during the periods of heavy rain when the risk of overflow is greatest. In the event of bathing water not achieving sufficient quality bathers shall be notified of a potential risk to the water quality by Fingal County Council and advised not to use the bathing area. The information is provided via notice board at the beach, by Lifeguards on duty and via the Fingal website www.fingalcoco.ie – this warning system is currently operational during the bathing season.

Description: Some private dwellings in the upper catchment are not connected to the main sewerage network and so have some form of on-site sewage treatment system. Source: Septic tanks/onsite wastewater treatment systems Type: Septic Tank Short Term Pressure: Yes Nature: Low Risk Frequency: occasional Duration: < 24 hours Risk Assessment Septic tanks and On-site Treatment Systems which are not functioning correctly or which are not Methodology: maintained may result in discharges to surface or ground waters in the vicinity.

Risk Assessment The risk is considered to be low Results: Details: Especially during and following intense rainfall events Management Septic tanks may be inspected in the vicinity as part of the National Inspection Plan. Measures:

Description: Use of the beach by dog walkers and horse riders and subsequent fouling may pose a risk to bathing water quality Source: Animal Fouling Type: Domestic animals on beach Short Term Pressure: Yes Nature: Moderate Risk Frequency: at least once during the bathing season Duration: < 72 hours Risk Assessment Widely recognised as containing high concentrations of E. Coli. Methodology:

Risk Assessment E-coli speciation to determine impact of animal fouling is planned for 2017 bathing season Results: Details: On-going anti-dog fouling publicity campaigns and signage Management On-going anti-dog fouling publicity campaigns and signage Measures:

3.3 Other Risks:

Assessment of the potential for proliferation N/A of cyanobacteria:

Proposed management measures for N/A cyanobacteria:

Assessment of the potential for proliferation N/A of macroalgae:

Proposed management measures for Monitoring on the beach has been carried out since 1996. There is no indication of significant macroalgae: potential for proliferation of Macroalgae on this beach

Assessment of the potential for proliferation N/A of marine phytoplankton:

Proposed management measures for marine Monitoring on the beach has been carried out since 1996. There is no indication of significant phytoplankton: potential for proliferation of Marine Phytoplankton on this beach

Additional Information: The catchment drawing requires updating. The treatment plant shown above is the old plant, the new plant is located just to the west of it. The outfall shown now only serves as a CSO from St Ita’s PS. The new outfall discharges approx 1.6km out to sea at Irish Grid ref 326732E, 249818N. This map will be updated in due course and submitted as a reviewed bathing water profile

4 Bathing Water Status From Previous Sampling Years:

2013 2014 2015 2016 Portrane, the Brook Beach Good Quality Excellent Good Quality Poor Quality Quality

5 Contact Details:

Contact: Fingal County Council Email: [email protected] Address: Environment Division, Environment and Water Services Department, County Hall, Swords, Co. Dublin Phone: 01 8905000