THE district council has confirmed tests have shown the sea at Newcastle is safe to bathe in again. On Saturday the council put up posters stating that bathing was not advised due to poor water quality. The Mourne Observer contacted the council to ask why it had been decided to warn swimmers of the poor water quality.
A statement from the council said it was as a result of a routine water test but that a subsequent test showed the water was safe for bathing once again. “Between the end of May and mid-September the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) undertakes weekly water quality tests at the district’s designated bathing waters,” a spokesperson for the council explained. “The tests monitor bacteria levels (E.coli and Intestinal Enterococci) with the results posted locally. “The results from water samples taken at Newcastle on Friday 16 June were received the following morning, Saturday 17 June. “These results identified elevated bacteria levels and, as per the water safety procedure, Newry, Mourne and Down District Council immediately erected posters, with temporary advice against bathing. “On Saturday 17 June DAERA officers assessed the sampling area and no cause for the elevated bacteria levels was identified. “On Sunday 18 June, results from a second set of samples showed that the elevated bacteria levels were no longer present and the water was again safe for bathing. The temporary warning posters were removed by the Council this morning, Monday 19 June.” Newcastle Sea Swimmers use the water in Newcastle almost every day for swimming, but on Saturday they were unable to do so. Fiona Davey, speaking on behalf of the Newcastle swimmers, said: “Personally it would have been helpful if the council had informed the swimming community directly. “I know of some of the swimming community that have taken the news seriously and refrained from swimming over the weekend.” This is not the first instance of the water quality in Newcastle deteriorating. It happens often after a heavy downpour.
The Newcastle Sea Swimmers are experienced enough to know that the level of water quality can deteriorate in the times after there has been heavy rain in the area. “Some of the regular sea swimmers are aware of the effects after heavy rainfall,” Fiona said. But she added that what happened at the weekend underlines the continued absence of the town’s historic rock pool, which is currently closed. “I feel it’s probably a good opportunity to highlight the timeframe in the rock pool still being closed, with no actual plan to re-open,” said Fiona. “It’s just a crying shame that such an iconic structure of Newcastle is being left to rot.” Alliance councillors Andrew McMurray and Jill Truesdale said they felt more could have been done to keep people informed about the temporary deterioration in water quality in Newcastle at the weekend. “In the midst of hot weather and when our beaches are full, water quality messaging procedures have not been as robust as they should have been,” a statement from the councillors added. “We will be asking for a full review of all methods used by DAERA/NIEA and the Council to be utilised when something of this magnitude occurs. “The public water quality monitoring information boards on Newcastle promenade are either broken or switched off, the town Tanoy system was not employed and the RNLI and Coastguard were not informed until Saturday lunchtime. “A series of posters stapled to the promenade and an over-reliance on word of mouth falls far short of what should happen. “The social media pages from both departments had absolutely no information on them and a promised update to be issued at 11am on the 19th has not, at the time of this release, appeared.”
DUP councillor Glyn Hanna said the weekend incident raises a number of questions. And he said it is important to get the word out widely when the quality of the water is poor. “Newcastle beach was closed last weekend because of bacteria levels in the water,” Cllr Hanna said. “This is alarming on a number of levels. First of all where has all the bacteria come from? “Is there an issue with sewage discharge? “Secondly other than a few paper notices on the promenade and police social media this was the only warnings given to the public. “I think this is disgraceful, people need proper public warnings so the people planning to go into the water can decide if it is safe to enter the water.
“Sea swimming has become very popular in Newcastle so warnings on water quality need to be of a nature people can have easy access to this information. “I have a number of concerns and worries on water pollution in Newcastle and questions for council and NI Water. “Newcastle beach has been having problems with water quality for a number of years. “I will be seeking a meeting with NI Water as I have questions on sewage discharge at Newcastle harbour. “People need reassurance seawater is safe when people are swimming, and also is this bacteria levels in the water only confined to Newcastle beach, and how is NI Water and the environment agency proposing to address pollution in the water, if pollution from whatever source is the problem?” Cllr Hanna said the local beach is “a big attraction for tourists”. “I am calling on all the bodies responsible for seawater quality. “They need to step up and address seawater quality before someone becomes seriously ill from pollution in the sea. “Newcastle has no indoor or outdoor swimming pool so the water in the Irish Sea must be looked after.”
