High levels of E. coli have spurred public anger due to water contamination at West Cork’s beaches, sparking beach closures and no-swim announcements at local favourites like Warren and Owenahincha. To discuss these issues, a meeting was arranged at the Celtic Ross Hotel in Rosscarbery.
Warren beach has struggled with water contamination for a lengthy period. The poor functionality of the local water treatment facility is believed to be the culprit by some residents, whereas others attribute the problem to agricultural runoff. Over the last two months, beach closures due to poor water quality have affected both Warren and Owenahincha, with the former having been closed twice and the latter once.
The local economy, particularly tourism, has suffered due to these closures. Shane Goggin, a coffee truck proprietor who operates on Warren beach, recounted the drastic drop in business. In 2022, his trade was flourishing until closures in August resulted in a desperate scramble out of the water. The following years have seen a decline in beachgoers. He illustrated how bad the situation had become by describing the closure of his truck on more days than it was open and admitting he had not swum in the local waters for the first time in his life.
Local resident Sean Mannion also reported the beaches’ decline, noting a significant reduction in beachgoers from the time two years prior. Furthermore, water pollution threatens activities like the popular Sunday morning surf life-saving courses at the Warren, attended by about 100 local children, amplifying concerns raised at the meeting.
Christopher O’Sullivan, a Fianna Fáil TD, addressed a recent meeting expressing his view that the main cause of the issue lies with the treatment plant situated on a headland between two beaches. He noted that nearby beaches at Inchydoney and Courtmacsherry no longer suffer water quality issues since the upgrading of the treatment plants in those locales.
O’Sullivan highlighted that, Uisce Éireann, the organisation in charge, does not accept that there is an issue with the plant’s capacity. He suggested that the local community’s first objective should be gathering proof that faecal matter is indeed being released into the sea.
Senator Tim Lombard pointed out that the onus of enforcing legal standards concerning water quality rests with the Environmental Protection Agency. He added that the agency has the ultimate authority to press Uisce Éireann into taking action.
In response, Uisce Éireann said, “The Rosscarbery Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) is categorised as amber, indicating there may be spare capacity. Each application is dealt with individually, considering their unique load requirements. Currently, no renovation works for Rosscarbery WWTP are underway or planned.
The company added, “A South Cork Regional Marine Modelling impact assessment for Rosscarberry – Owenahincha is in the initial phase of the Environmental Scoping Report (ESR), with the next 2-4 phases set to follow. This marks the inception of a capital project process, and the results will guide and determine future investment and needs.”