Lilliput, Lough Ennel (2015)
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Bathing Water Profile - Lilliput, Lough Ennel (2015) Bathing Water: Lilliput, Lough Ennel Bathing Water Code: IESHBWL25_188_0100 Local Authority: Westmeath County Council River Basin District: Shannon Monitoring Point: 237653E, 244415N 1. Profile Details: Profile Id: BWPR00297 Toilets Available: Yes Year Of Profile: 2015 Car Parking Available: Yes Year Of Identification 1992 Disabled Access: Yes Version Number: 1 First Aid Available: Yes Sensitive Area: Yes Dogs Allowed: No Lifesaving Facilities: No Figure 1: Bathing Water 2. Bathing Water Details: Map 1: Bathing Water Location & Extent Bathing Water location and Lilliput bathing water site is located on the shores of Lough Ennell. The Iough is located near the town of extent: Mullingar, County Westmeath and is approximately 4.5 miles long by 2 miles wide with an area of about 3,540 acres. The main river flowing into Lough Ennell is the river Brosna . The River Brosna enters Lough Ennell at Mullingar and exits on the opposite side of the lake at lilliput. The bathing area extends over an area of approximately 55 meters wide and 100meters long (c.0.50Ha) Main features of the Bathing Type of Bathing Water Water: Lilliput is an inland water bathing area located on the shores of Lough Ennell. The lake bottom is of limestone with a marl deposit. The water is alkaline and mesotrophic Flora/Fauna, Riparian Zone Lough Ennell supports a diverse aquatic flora; seven stoneworts have been identified including the two Red Data Book species, C. denudate and C. Tomentosa Water Depth The bathing area is shallow and does not support diving by bathers . Sensitive Area Approx number of visitors during the bathing season: 400 Activities available at the The bathing area is used by the adventure centre to teach children participating in summer camps about Bathing Water: water safety and canoeing. Local triathlon clubs hold swimming races at Lilliput throughout the summer months. Contributing catchment Within the immediate area of the bathing water catchment, there is a mixed woodland area consisting of details: birch and beech. There is an Adventure Centre within the bathing water catchment that is served by an on site wastewater treatment plant discharging to a wetland system. The contributing catchment is approximately 29.79Ha in area. Water Bodies Draining to Bathing Water There are no waterbodies draining to the bathing area, the River Brosna drains away from the area. Topography The catchment consists of relatively low rolling landscape. Monitoring point details: The grid reference for the bathing water point is GPS 637651; 744414 Reason for selection of the The bathing water monitoring point was selected to take account of the following : monitoring point: • Location were most bathers are expected to use the bathing water. • Ease of access to sampling site Water quality assessment: The bathing water quality at Lilliput has shown variable quality over the past 10 years varying in quality from satisfactory to poor. 3. Identified Pressures: Map 2: Bathing Water Catchment 3.1 Potential pressures in the catchment assessed as posing no risk: No pressures identified 3.2 Potential pressures in the catchment assessed as posing risk: Description: The wider catchment area is predominantly an agricultural area with relatively intensive grassland & peat lands. Organic fertiliser from local farms is land spread within the catchment. It is considered that agriculture in the catchment area will not have a significant impact on water quality at the bathing water during periods of heavy rainfall Source: Agricultural Practice Type: Run off from agricultural land Short Term Pressure: No Nature: N/A Frequency: N/A Duration: N/A Risk Assessment An audit of land use in the vacinity of bathing area was undertaken. The audit identified that the Methodology: land use in the immediate catchment of the bathing area is associated with the use by the Adventure Centre, and as such organic fertilisers will not be spread close to the bathing area. Risk Assessment It is considered that agricultural practice in the catchment area poses a moderate risk . Results: Details: N/A Management N/A Measures: Description: A “herring bone” patterned underground land drainage system was installed by Westmeath County Council in the 1990s in order to drain an area of water-logged land at Lilliput. The point discharge from the drainage system discharges to Lough Ennell is approximately 70 metres south of the bathing area. Source: Ground Water Point Discharge Type: Rivers, ditches, canals, groundwaters Short Term Pressure: No Nature: N/A Frequency: N/A Duration: N/A Risk Assessment The ground water discharge was analysed for faecal bacteria numerous times during bathing Methodology: seasons in the past. No e-coli or intestinal enterococci was detected during the analysis. Risk Assessment The point discharge of groundwater in the vicinity of the bathing was assessed as been Low Risk Results: Details: N/A Management N/A Measures: Description: Two septic tanks are located within the immediate catchment of the bathing area. The first tank is located close to the Adventure Centre and is no longer in use. The second tank is located to the southeast of the catchment. Effluent discharge from septic tanks can contain high counts of faecal bacteria and therefore must be considered as a pressure on the bathing water quality. Source: Domestic Wastewater Treatment Systems Type: Septic Tank Short Term Pressure: No Nature: N/A Frequency: N/A Duration: N/A Risk Assessment The first septic located near to the Adventure Centre, is no longer in use. A sewer stopper was Methodology: installed to ensure that no wastewater enters the septic tank, and the tank was desludged. Finally the tank was dye-tested to confirm that there was no direct discharge from the septic tank to the bathing water. The second septic tank and percolation area was inspected by an EPA approved domestic wastewater treatment system inspector, who verified that the septic tank and percolation area appeared to be functioning as designed. The tank was desludged and it was noted that the system serves 1 person only. Risk Assessment The first septic tank and soak pit possesses almost no risk of negatively effecting bathing water Results: quality, as it is no longer in use. The second septic tank and percolation area is functioning as designed and has been assessed as having a low risk of negatively affecting the bathing water quality. Details: N/A Management N/A Measures: Description: Swans and other water fowl, regularly nest within the reeds located in close proximity to the Bathing area. Droppings from the nesting bird may increase the microbial pollution potential. Source: Nesting Birds Type: Fauna Short Term Pressure: No Nature: N/A Frequency: N/A Duration: N/A Risk Assessment The approximate number of nesting birds is quantified during each inspection during the bathing Methodology: season. Any noted increase in concentration of birds at the bathing area will be contrasted with the microbiological result to determine risk levels. Risk Assessment Due to the transient nature of wild birds, the risk varies on a week to week basis. Results: Details: N/A Management N/A Measures: Description: There is a wastewater treatment plant within the bathing area catchment. This treatment system serves the Adventure Centre catering for a PE of 100 and previously discharged to a wetland system. For the duration of the bathing season, no discharge will be permitted from the plant and all effluent will be tankered off site for safe disposal. Source: Onsite Wastewater System Type: Waste Water Treatment plant Short Term Pressure: No Nature: N/A Frequency: N/A Duration: N/A Risk Assessment In accordance with the Environmental Protection Agency - Guidance for the development of Methodology: Bathing Water Profiles July 2010, Risk Assessment Methodology: the 95 percentile of all monitoring result over the past 5 years is 2420cfu / 100ml for Faecal Coliforms/E coli and 1937cfu/100ml for Faecal Streptococci / Enterococci, therefore this relates to a water quality impact grade of H with a value of >550. The Microbial Pollution Potential can be classified as high. Therefore the Microbial Pollution risk is assessed as severe. Risk Assessment If the wetlands system were to be used, the risk of contamination from the onsite wastewater Results: treatment system would be considered to be high. However now that all effluent is to be tankered off site, the risk of contamination is reclassified as moderate. Details: N/A Management N/A Measures: 3.3 Other Risks: Assessment of the potential for proliferation During the period May - August as part of routine lake monitoring the Council conduct regular of cyanobacteria: water quality assessment of lake water quality for the presence of cyanobacteria . In the event that the presence of cyanobacteria is identified in the bathing area the Council shall erect notices warning bathers of the presence of algae and risk to bathers and animals. Investigation have concluded that the sheltered natured of the bathing area prevents the mixing of water which in turn allow cyanobacteria to accumulate. Also the shallow water at the bathing area facilitates the heating of the water column by sunlight, allowing cyanobacteia to bloom Proposed management measures for In the event that the presence of cyanobacteria is identified in the bathing area the Council notify cyanobacteria: the HSE and EPA, issues press releases and erects notices warning bathers of the presence of algae and risk to