Have you ever traveled to Ireland? If this is your next vacation plan and you are passing through Lahinch, stop by and meet the volunteers of the West Coast of Ireland Chapter. This Chapter has been fighting for a few years against Water quality issues in Ireland, first near the small village of Lahinch and now planning to do so covering half the coast of Ireland. The Chapter has been working in cooperation with other local NGOs advocating to local authorities and raising awareness. The recent win in Liscannor bay will hopefully be a first milestone of a new Surfrider adventure in Ireland.
Credit: Alexis Clarkson Keating
What’s with water quality in Ireland?
Known for its savage beaches and jaw dropping cliffs, the Irish coastlines are a treat for the eye of any ocean lover, and a pleasure for any surfer brave enough for its cold waters. But despite this attractive portrait we all have in mind; Ireland has been facing a water quality issue in its bathing area and Ireland has been rated among the worst countries of Europe regarding the quality of its bathing water (21st place in Europe in 2020 according to the European Environment Agency). In the last years, Ireland has reported consistently the highest rates of human infection with Shiga toxigenic Escherichia coli (STEC) and recent studies (O’Connor and al.; 2021) show a widespread contamination of recreational water with STEC in Ireland. The lack of water treatment plants in Ireland with the consequence of spilling untreated water in the Ocean near many bathing water sites, is the main cause of pollution (in 2020, 47% of pollution incidents were due to urban wastewater according to the Irish Environmental Protection Agency). Directly impacted by this pollution is Liscannor Bay with Lahinch beach, a great surf spot where surfers and other ocean users suffered health problems after bathing.
An advocacy campaign by our top volunteers in Lahinch
Willing to solve this problem step by step and to improve the water quality in Ireland, the West Coast of Ireland chapter advocated in cooperation with other local NGOs for the construction of a water treatment plant in Liscannor bay. They took action with participation in awareness raising events, meetings with county and local representatives as well as active communication on the topic. After 5 years, and with the support of Senator Roísín Garvey, Filmmaker Kev L Smith, county councilor Liam Grant & the Inagh River Catchment Association, the Surfrider volunteers finally got successful with the announcement of the construction of a new wastewater treatment plant last June, and the beginning of the construction a few months ago.
Credit: Alexis Clarkson Keating
A wave in the Ocean, local action for European impact.
With this fight for water where you can surf, swim or kite without being sick, the West coast of Ireland contributed locally to the goals of the Healthy water campaign: ensuring a better quality in bathing water by acting at the source of the problem instead of closing bathing sites. With the end of this local campaign, the team of volunteers will now try to identify other local areas to improve the water quality in Ireland. According to Lexi, founder of the West coast of Ireland chapter: “The groundbreaking work of the water treatment plant in Liscannor is huge progress, but there’s much work still to be done as raw sewage continues to flow from 32 additional towns into Irish waterways, which simply cannot be tolerated.” The European Commission public consultation on the revision of the Bathing Water Directive closed a few weeks ago and we will continue to make everything for your voice on
this topic to be heard, keep moving!
For more information on Water Quality in Ireland, visit the https://www.beaches.ie/file-resources/
