Bathing Water Profile - (2013)

Bathing Water: Ballyheigue Bathing Water Code: IESHBWC040_0000_0100 Local Authority: Kerry County Council River Basin District: Shannon Monitoring Point: 74815E, 127728N

1. Profile Details:

Profile Id: BWPR00176 Toilets Available: Yes Year Of Profile: 2013 Car Parking Available: Yes Year Of Identification 1992 Disabled Access: Yes Version Number: 1 First Aid Available: Yes Sensitive Area: Yes Dogs Allowed: Yes Lifesaving Facilities: Yes

Figure 1: Bathing Water 2. Bathing Water Details:

Map 1: Bathing Water Location & Extent

Bathing Water location and Ballyheigue bathing waters are located directly adjacent to the village of Ballyheigue in North Kerry, on the extent: Atlantic Coast. Ballyheigue is located in the North Kerry/ Bay Water Management Unit area of the Shannon International River Basin District.

The bathing area is approximately 350 metres wide.

Main features of the Bathing Type of Bathing Water : Water: Ballyheigue is an exposed sandy beach facing due west onto the Atlantic ocean, thus the bathing waters can be rough at times.

Flora/Fauna, Riparian Zone

There is no vegetation of note at the rear of the majority of the bathing waters, as the bathing waters back onto a concrete promenade. The section at the southern end of the bathing waters back onto a sand-dune system which is part of an extensive area of sand dunes running south for approximately 9km to Barrow.

Land Use :

The bathing waters at Ballyheigue are directly adjacent to the village of Ballyheigue. A large car park is located immediately adjacent to the beach. The village of Ballyheigue includes a variety of residential and commercial properties, including a number of caravan parks. Beyond the village, land use primarily comprises agriculture, residential use (single rural housing) and recreational use (eg. golf course).

Sensitive Area :

The Kerry Head Special Protection Area, site code 004189, is located 2km west of Ballyheigue bathing waters. The Akeragh, Banna and Special Protection Area, site code 004079, and the Akeragh, Banna and Barrow Harbour Special Area of Conservation, site code 000332, are located 600m south of Ballyheigue bathing waters.

Activities available at the The beach is predominately used by walkers and bathers. The waters offshore from the bathing area are Bathing Water: infrequently used for sailing, wind surfing and other water sports. The beach is also covered by Kerry County Council Beach Bye-laws which regulate a range of activities on the beach.

Contributing catchment Ballyheigue bathing waters are located in the townlands of Ballyheigue and Buncurrig. There are no details: significant surface water features flowing onto the bathing water. The main freshwater inputs into the coastal waters around Ballyheigue bathing waters include an unnamed stream flowing into the sea approximately 1km west of the bathing waters on the Kerry Head Peninsula. Additional streams; including Contributing catchment details: the Bone Rivulet and the Glenderry Rivulet which flow into the bay from the Kerry Head Peninsula. Other freshwater inputs of note include the Tyshe River which flows into the bay approximately 3km south of the identified waters. The catchment rises from the bathing waters to a height of 90m at the northern end of the contributing catchment.

Monitoring point details: The grid reference for the bathing water monitoring point is Eastings 74815.1, Northings 127728.0. The precise location of the bathing water monitoring point can vary depending on tides.

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.

Water quality assessment: Ballyheigue bathing water has been a designated Blue Flag beach for a number of years and has generally shown good water quality. An analysis of bathing water quality over the period 2009-2012 shows that "good" bathing water quality status was achieved each year over the period 2009-2011 inclusive. However, due to one uncharacteristically poor sample taken during the 2012 bathing season, the status dropped to "poor" for that season. It is important to note, however, that Blue-Flag status was retained for the 2012 season, notwithstanding the change in status.

Analysis of the monitoring data for the 2013 season shows that bathing water quality was again good, thus highlighting the uncharacteristic nature of the rogue sample from the 2012 season. Based on an analysis of the historical monitoring data, It is expected that bathing water quality will continue to be good over the 2014 and subsequent bathing seasons.

However, there is a possibility that water quality at this bathing area may be subject to short-term pollution due to climatic events, such as heavy rainfall. Where bathing water quality is impacted in such circumstances, it may be necessary to apply a derogation/departure for samples taken during the course of any such short-term pollution event. Provision for such is provided under Article 7(4) of the Bathing Water Quality Regulations, 2008 (S.I. No. 79 of 2008), whereby samples taken during short-term pollution may be disregarded.

3. Identified Pressures:

Map 2: Bathing Water Catchment

3.1 Potential pressures in the catchment assessed as posing no risk: Description: There are a number of unsewered properties within the contributing catchment (both residential and commercial). The majority of these, however, are remote from the bathing water. Source: On-Site Wastewater Treatment Systems Type: Septic Tank Short Term Pressure: No

Description: Ballyheigue wastewater treatment plant is located in the townland of Dromatoor approximately 1.6km west of the bathing waters. The outfall from the treatment plant discharges to Ballyheigue Bay which is over 1.1km west of the designated bathing waters. The sewer network contains two pumping stations with emergency discharge to a land drain leading south towards Akeragh Lough.

The Ballyheigue wastewater treatment system consists of an extended aeration system which provides secondary treatment with nutrient reduction. The plant also includes Ultra Violet disinfection. The sewer network consists of two separate pumping stations that pump wastewater into manholes on the main sewer line. The combined system discharges to a waste water treatment plant in the townland of Dromatoor.

Source: Municipal Wastewater Treatment Type: Waste Water Treatment plant Short Term Pressure: No

3.2 Potential pressures in the catchment assessed as posing risk: Description: Due to the location and orientation of the bathing waters in question there is a risk that water quality may be affected by sediment disturbance. Source: Sediment Disturbance Type: Sediment disturbance Short Term Pressure: Yes Nature: Low Risk Frequency: <1/month Duration: < 72 hours Risk Assessment The beach at Ballyheigue is westward facing and is open to the prevailing south-westery winds. Methodology: Due to its location and orientation, it is occasionally subject to strong wind and wave activity, which has the potential to cause sediment disturbance. As noted previously, while bathing water is generally of good quality at this location, a sample taken during the 2012 bathing season showed high levels of bacteriological contamination.

Various investigations were carried out at the time in an effort to identify the possible source of the issue, including catchment surveys, detailed discussions with the Water Services Department regarding operation of the Ballyheigue wastewater treatment plant etc. Risk Assessment As outlined previously, various investigations were carried out at the time of the rogue sample in an Results: effort to identify the possible source of the issue. this included: catchment surveys, detailed discussions with the Water Services Department regarding operation of the Ballyheigue wastewater treatment plant etc. However, these investigations did not identify any particular activities or issues which could be deemed to be the cause of the issue.

However, it was noted that the sample coincided with a period of rain and wind activity, which suggests that the cause of the issue may have been related to sediment disturbance. Details: Due to the location and orientation of the bathing waters in question there is a risk that water quality may be affected by sediment disturbance resulting in short-term pollution. Management Measures: Kerry County Council has established a procedure whereby, if adverse weather/tidal conditions are anticipated, warning notices are erected on the beach at Ballyheigue. In addition, the Liferguard Service is notified, together with incident notification to the EPA.

Description: A proportion of the catchment is agricultural land. The agricultural activity in the catchment is semi- intensive grassland, there is no tillage of note in the contributing catchment. Source: Agricultural activity Type: Run off from agricultural land Short Term Pressure: Yes Nature: Low Risk Frequency: <1 / year Duration: < 72 hours Risk Assessment As part of the risk assessment process, reference has been made to information contained in the Methodology: River Basin District Management Plans. The risk assessment methodology in this instance has been based on the Source-Pathway-Receptor model.

• The source in this particular instance would be potential microbial contamination from agricultural activities in the catchment. It is noted, however, that there are no intensive agricultural enterprises within the catchment (eg. pig or poultry producers).

• The pathway in this instance would primarily be surface water flow (overland and/or directly via surface water streams) within the catchment and possibly groundwater flow. However, there are no significant surface water features flowing onto the beach.

• The receptor in this instance is the identified bathing water at Ballyheigue.

Risk Assessment While there are no intensive agricultural activities within the catchment and soils are generally free Results: draining and productive, there is a possibility that some agriculture-related surface waters may discharge indirectly to the bathing waters. On this basis, it is considered that agricultural activity may pose a low-risk to water quality in the bathing area. Details: While there are no intensive agricultural activities within the catchment and soils are generally free draining and productive, there is a possibility that some agriculture-related surface waters may discharge indirectly to the bathing waters. On this basis, it is considered that agricultural activity may pose a low-risk to water quality in the bathing area. Management Measures: Farm activities within the contributing catchment will be monitored to identify any activities that might be considered to pose a risk to bathing water quality.

A risk matrix has been developed by Kerry County Council for the bathing area in question, based on rainfall intensity levels. The bathing area at Ballyheigue has been given a vulnerability rating of 3, which indicates a high susceptibility to rainfall impacts for rainfall intensities in excess of 25mm over any 72-hour period.

The matrix in question is used to predict the likelihood of short-term pollution. If adverse weather is anticipated, warning notices are erected in circusmtances where a risk of short-term pollution has been identified. In addition, the Lifeguard Service is notified, together with incident notification to the EPA.

3.3 Other Risks:

Assessment of the potential for proliferation Monitoring of the beach since it attainted Blue Flag status indicates that there is no significant of cyanobacteria: potential for proliferation of Cyanobacteria on this beach.

Proposed management measures for N/A cyanobacteria:

Assessment of the potential for proliferation Monitoring of the beach since it attainted Blue Flag status indicates that the bathing waters are of macroalgae: not subject to excessive growth of macro-algae (seaweed). There are, however, occasional accumulations of seaweed on the beach, generally following periods of storm.

Proposed management measures for Excessive accumulations of seaweed are generally cleared off the beach by local authority macroalgae: personnel.

Assessment of the potential for proliferation Monitoring of the beach since it attained Blue Flag status indicates that there is no significant of marine phytoplankton: potential for proliferation of Marine Phytoplankton on this beach.

Proposed management measures for marine N/A phytoplankton: Additional Information: Contact Details :

Contact : Kerry County Council

Email : [email protected]

Address : Environment Department, Maine Street, Tralee, Co. Kerry.

Phone : 066 7162000

4 Bathing Water Status From Previous Sampling Years:

2010 2011 2012 2013 Ballyheigue Good Good Poor Good

5 Contact Details:

Contact: Kerry County Council Email: [email protected] Address: Environment Section, Maine Street, Tralee, Co. Kerry Phone: 066 7162049