Buncrana beach to have swimming restrictions again this year

Swimming will be restricted at Lady’s Bay, Buncrana’s shorefront beach, for another year owing to poor water quality arising from pollution from the nearby sewage treatment plant.

The Buncrana beach is one of just two in the State where public health advises against swimming due to the risk of waterborne diseases.

Water quality tests are conducted at more than 150 bathing spots across the Republic, including 21 in Donegal, with the most polluted water found at Buncrana’s shorefront and at Sandymount beach just south of Dublin’s city centre.

Buncrana’s sewerage network is regularly overwhelmed during spells of heavy rainfall leading to the discharge of untreated sewage into Lough Swilly from points in the network and from the rivers and streams flowing into the sea.

Uisce Éireann has undertaken a substantial upgrade to Buncrana’s sewerage network over the past two years, including new wastewater storage tanks and an upgrade to the wastewater treatment plant on Railway Road adjacent to the tourist office.

However, that work was not complete in 2024 when water testing was carried out. 

The results of water tests, which are generally conducted from May-September, will be closely watched this summer to see whether the quality improves sufficiently to allow restricted swimming advice to be lifted at Lady’s Bay next year.

Read More: Pollution at Lady's Bay has been evident for some years

Improvements in water quality have been achieved at three beaches which has been blacklisted in 2024 in Dublin and Galway.

Trá na mBan at An Spidéal in Galway achieved excellent water quality after a new wastewater treatment plant was commissioned.

The improvements at Ballbriggan and Loughshinny in Fingal (north Dublin) were more modest with the classification improving from poor to sufficient allowing swimming restrictions to be lifted.

While Buncrana has its problems, the picture is much more positive elsewhere in Donegal. Of the 21 locations where bathing water is tested, 16 returned excellent results.

Those are Bundoran, Rossnowlagh, Murvagh, Fintra, Naran, Dooey, Carrickfinn, Portarthur (Derrybeg), Magheraroarty, Drumnatinny, Killahoey, Marble Hill, Downings, Ballyhiernan (Fanad), Portsalon, Culdaff and Stroove.

Good water quality results were obtained at Portnablagh, Rathmullan and Lisfannon (Fahan).

There are four standards by which water quality is classified – Excellent, Good, Sufficient and Poor.

Of the 151 bathing spots across the 26 counties which were assessed last year, 122 were excellent, 19 good, four sufficient and two poor.