Bathing Water Profile - Castlegregory (2013) Bathing Water: Castlegregory Bathing Water Code: IESHBWC040_0000_0300 Local Authority: Kerry County Council River Basin District: Shannon Monitoring Point: 62706E, 114014N 1. Profile Details: Profile Id: BWPR00238 Toilets Available: Yes Year Of Profile: 2013 Car Parking Available: Yes Year Of Identification 1996 Disabled Access: No Version Number: 1 First Aid Available: No 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 Castlegregory Beach is located on the northern side of the Dingle Peninsula in County Kerry, in the South extent: West of Ireland. The bathing area is approximately 300m in length and is located approximately 800m north east of Castlegregory Village. The bathing waters are included within the Shannon International River Basin District. Main features of the Bathing Type of Bathing Water Water: Castlegregory Beach is a sandy beach, facing north-east into Tralee Bay. It is largely sheltered from severe wave activity and from the prevailing winds, which tend to be south westerly, by virtue of it orientation and the fact that the Maharees Peninsula (which extends into Tralee Bay) is situated to the north. Flora/Fauna, Riparian Zone The majority of the bathing area is backed by a sand dune system, the vegetation within which is dominated by marram grasses. The land immediately beyond the dune system primarily comprises a mix of grassland (enclosed) and wetland (salt marsh), however, there are also small areas of market- gardening. The beach at Castlegregory is designated Special Area of Conservation, as part of the Tralee Bay and Magharees Peninsula SAC. Land Use Land use in the vicinity of Castlegregory is primarily a mix of agricultural and urban/suburban development. Sensitive Area Castlegreogory Beach is located within the Tralee Bay and Magharees Peninsula Special Area of Conservation (Site Code : 002070). Parts of Tralee Bay are also designated as Special Protection Areas in accordance with the EU Birds Directive. Significant areas of Tralee Bay are also designated shellfish areas (Tralee Bay and Maharees Shellfish Areas) in accordance with the EU Shellfish Directive. The waters in this area are particularly renowned for oyster cultivation. The bathing area is close to Castlegregory Village and to the Maharees Peninsula. Activities available at the The strand is popular with bathers and walkers. Angling is also popular in the area, and Lough Gill is Bathing Water: located close by. In addition, there are a large range of other activities available in the locality, including pony trekking, golf, surfing and other water sports. The regulation and control of a number of activities on the beach are dealt with under the Kerry County Council Beach Bye-Laws. Contributing catchment Castlegregory bathing area is located within the greater catchment of Tralee Bay. However, the immediate details: contributing catchment of the bathing area covers a much smaller area in the vicinity of the beach of approximately 1km2 in area. The immediate catchment is primarily a mixture of enclosed grassland, marram sand dunes and suburban development. Castlegregory Village is a short distance beyond the boundary of the immediate catchment, and drains south-eastwards towards an area of extensive wetland. As indicated previously, land use in the vicinity of Castlegregory bathing area is primarily a mix of agricultural and urban/suburban development. Agricultural activity is mostly low-medium intensity enclosed grassland, used for grazing of sheep, cattle and horses. In addition to agriculture, there are a number of dispersed dwellings and other developments (eg. a school and GAA field) in the vicinity of the bathing area. There are no surface water streams which flow to sea within the immediate catchment. Beyond this, however, there are two rivers which flow to sea : (1) the outlet from Lough Gill which flows to sea north of the bathing area at Trench Bridge and, (2) the outlet from the extensive wetland area to the south of the bathing area. Monitoring point details: The grid reference for the bathing water monitoring point is Eastings 62705.8, Northings 114013.7. The precise location of the bathing water monitoring point can vary depending on tides. Reason for selection of the The sampling point was considered to be representative of the bathing quality within the designated area monitoring point: and is located within the area of highest bather density. Water quality assessment: Castlegregory Beach has shown consistently good water quality over many years. For the 2012 bathing season, Castlegregory achieved good water quality status and complied with the EU guide and mandatory values as set out in the Quality of Bathing Waters Regulations. It is anticipated 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 other). The majority of these, however, are some distance from the bathing water. Source: Unsewered Properties Type: Septic Tank Short Term Pressure: No Description: Much of the land use within the immediate contributing catchment is agricultural. Low-medium intensity sheep, cattle and horse rearing predominate, and there is no evidence of widespread winter-housing of livestock. Source: Agricultural Activity Type: Run off from agricultural land Short Term Pressure: No 3.2 Potential pressures in the catchment assessed as posing risk: Description: The wastewater treatment plant for Castlegregory is located to the east of the village and is approximately 0.6km south west of the bathing waters. The outfall from the treatment plant discharges to a tidal river, south east of the treatment plant, which, in turn, flows to Tralee Bay. The river enters the Bay at a location approximately 1.5km from the bathing area. The treatment system comprises a combined-sewer network, with overflows, and a septic tank. The system currently services a population equivalent of approximately 800 and is operating at capacity. Source: Municipal Wastewater Treatment Type: Waste Water Treatment plant Short Term Pressure: Yes Nature: Low Risk Frequency: < 1/year Duration: < 72 hours Risk Assessment In carrying out the risk assessment, reference is made to the recommended methodology contained Methodology: in the EPA document “Guidance for the Development of Bathing Water Profiles”. Risk Assessment The discharge from the Castlegregory wastewater treatment plant could be considered a long outfall Results: (based on the fact that the outfall is to a tidal river approximately 1.5km from the bathing area). The preliminary nature of the treatment provided suggests that the Microbial Pollution Potential is low (based on the nature of the outfall : long outfall), however, as Castlegregory has a small population (note : c 60,000 is considered a medium population), the Microbial Pollution Potential is reduced accordingly to Very Low. The 95 percentiles monitoring result is estimated at Water Quality Impact grade A with a value between 0-40 (Intestinal enterococci). Therefore the Microbial Pollution Risk Assessment for this discharge is assessed as being very low. Details: The wastewater treatment plant for Castlegregory is located to the east of the village and is approximately 0.6km south west of the bathing waters. The outfall from the treatment plant discharges to a tidal river, south east of the treatment plant, which, in turn, flows to Tralee Bay. The river enters the Bay at a location approximately 1.5km from the bathing area. The discharge from the Castlegregory wastewater treatment plant could be considered a long outfall (based on the fact that the outfall is to a tidal river approximately 1.5km from the bathing area). The preliminary nature of the treatment provided suggests that the Microbial Pollution Potential is low (based on the nature of the outfall : long outfall), however, as Castlegregory has a small population (note : c 60,000 is considered a medium population), the Microbial Pollution Potential is reduced accordingly to Very Low. The 95 percentiles monitoring result is estimated at Water Quality Impact grade A with a value between 0-40 (Intestinal enterococci). Therefore the Microbial Pollution Risk Assessment for this discharge is assessed as being very low. Notwithstanding the fact that the risk is assessed as being very low, it is anticipated that the risk of any short-term pollution would be greatest during adverse weather conditions, particularly heavy rainfall. Management Measures: A risk matrix has been developed by Kerry County Council for the bathing water area in question, based on rainfall intensity levels. The bathing area at Castlegregory has been given a vulnerability rating of 2, which indicates a high susceptibility to rainfall impacts for rainfall intensities in excess of 30mm over any 24-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 circumstances 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 indicates that there is no significant potential for proliferation of of cyanobacteria: Cyanobacteria on this beach.