A Green Party MEP claims beach-closures will continue to happen regularly in Dublin because of climate change.
Swimming is banned at eight beaches across the city, after leaks from a wastewater treatment plant caused by heavy rainfall.
A treatment plant in Ringsend is being upgraded - but leaks aren't expected to improve until 2023.
MEP Ciaran Cuffe thinks other measures could help the problem until then such as the separation of storm sewers from regular sewers to help stop the amount of sewerage going into the storage tanks at the Ringsend plant.
Ciaran Cuffe says unusual summer downpours are going to increase each year due to climate change and the sewerage network will need a complete upgrade to deal with the matter.
Dublin City Council issued swimming bans for Dollymount, Merrion and Sandymount strands.
It said it will continue to monitor the water and will lift the bans as soon as the quality meets the required standard.
Bathing Prohibitions are currently in place for Dollymount, Merrion and Sandymount beaches. This was as a result of adverse weather conditions and significant rainfall over the Dublin area last night. Full details: https://t.co/h1vTnQfZKg pic.twitter.com/BLQyn4iZ22
— Dublin City Council (@DubCityCouncil) August 9, 2019
Meanwhile, Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council (DLRCC) has banned swimming at Seapoint, Sandycove, The Forty Foot, Killiney and Whiterock has been extended until Monday after initial reports suggested it would be reviewed later today.
UPDATE: the temporary prohibition notice for all dlr bathing areas has been extended to 1500 Monday 12 August pending water quality test results following wastewater overflow from @IWCare treatment plants.
For more information see here: https://t.co/KVpb1iCGwt pic.twitter.com/HaLeHm8MjP
— dlrcc (@dlrcc) August 9, 2019
