Bathing Water Profile - Loughshinny Beach (2016) Bathing Water: Loughshinny Beach Bathing Water Code: IEEABWC020_0000_0400 Local Authority: Fingal County Council River Basin District: Eastern Monitoring Point: 327263E, 256842N 1. Profile Profile Id: BWPR00322 Toilets Available: Year Of Profile: 2016 Car Parking Available: Year Of Identification 1992 Disabled Access: Version Number: 1 First Aid Available: Sensitive Area: Dogs Allowed: Lifesaving Facilities: Figure 1: Bathing Water
2. Bathing Water Map 1: Bathing Water Location & Extent Bathing Water location and extent: LoughshinnyBeach is located 30.5km from Dublin City Centre, Fingal, rth Co.Dublin. Loughshinny is a small seaside village. Loughshinny Beach is a 0.2km long sandy beach and approx. 0.03 km2 in area Main features of the Bathing Water: Beach LoughshinnyBeach is a small, sandy and sheltered cove-like beach which gently slopes to the sea. Adjoining the beach to the east is a small, active fishing harbour Loughshinny harbour. Immediately surrounding the beach are rocky shores and cliffs. There are 2 entrances to the beach. Flora/Fauna/Riparian Zone: Habitats of ecological interest around Loughshinny harbour include the rocky shores and cliffs surrounding the harbour. The beach itself does not support many species, but a 2m wide band of strandline vegetation is present along the high water mark supporting Sea Rocket, Sea Beets, Curled Dock, Sea Mayweed and Spear-leaved Oraches species. The rocky shore and cliffs support a wide variety of plants and marine life such as Bladder Wrack, Serrated Wrack, Mussels, Limpets, Snails, Crabs and Red Anemones. These species are adapted to the harsh conditions the tidal zone presents, with crashing waves and exposure to wind and sun during low tides. The softer sedimentary cliffs on the west side of the harbour are colonised by Fulmars. They create little pockets in the cliffs where they can build their nest and raise their young. Two bat species have also been recorded in the vicinity of LoughshinnyHarbour, Soprano pipistrelles and Leisler bats seek areas along the cliffs and harbour wall that are sheltered from wind. These calm pockets are the most likely place where they will find their prey such as midges, flies and other insects. For more information, please visitwww.fingalbiodiversity.ie Water Depth/Tidal Range: The estimated depth of the bathing water is 2.0m. This can fluctuate with tidal movement. Land use: The land use in the area immediately surrounding the beach is complex cultivation pattern however there are also residential elements. Approx. number of visitors: The average daily visitor numbers to the beach during the bathing season is 100. Activities available at the Bathing Water: Swimming; Canoeing Power Boating; Fishing ; Horse riding; Dog walking. The Millennium Walk route begins in Loughshinny with places of historic interest.
Contributing catchment details: Location and Extent: Loughshinny Beach is located in the Delvin Coastal/ Coastal Skerries catchment area which is approx. 79.85 sq km. The contributing catchment for Loughshinny Beach is limited to Loughshinny village. Water Bodies Draining to Bathing Area: There two small streams discharging to the bathing area. The stream to the south of the bathing area flows through mainly farmland taking in ditches from the surrounding rural landscape. The stream discharging almost to the centre of the bathing area takes all surface water from houses within Loughshinny Village and Rockabill Housing Estate. Topography: The contributing catchment area is mainly low rolling flatland with occasional hills. The main direction of the land is to the east and south-east. Land Use: The catchment area is mainly agricultural classified as complex cultivation patterns and nonirrigated land. Soils, Subsoil, Bedrock: Three main soil types divide the catchment area into 3 parts: the north predominantly sandstone and shale till (Lower Palaeozoic) with a matrix ofirish SeaBasin origin; the middle predominantly shale and sandstone till (Narmurian) and the south, limestone till (Carboniferous). There are two main bedrock types: Silurian Metasediments and Volcanics on the north of the catchment and Dinantian Upper Impure Limestones to the south. Loughshinny area is covered by limestone tills (Carboniferous) and underlying Dinantian Upper Impure Limestones. Aquifer: Locally Important Aquifer-Bedrock which is Generally Moderately Productive is a main aquifer in the catchment area. Formal Designated Area: There is no formal designated area in the vicinity of the designated bathing water. 3.5 km to the north lies theskerriesislands which are designated as Special Protection Areas (SPA), Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) and a Natural Heritage Area (NHA). To the north, 1.2km from the beach, the Loughshinny Coastal area is a proposed Natural Heritage Area (pnha). The Rogerstown Estuary, located 3.5km to the south of the beach is a designated Special Protection Areas (SPA), Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) and proposed Natural Heritage Area (pnha). Population Centres: The village ofloughshinny is adjacent to the bathing area and has a population equivalent of approximately 700pe. Monitoring point details: The grid reference for the nominated bathing water monitoring point is: 327262.987E 256841.6839N Reason for selection of the monitoring point: The location of the monitoring point is the location where the most bathers are expected during the bathing season. Water quality assessment: The bathing water quality monitoring has been carried out at Loughshinny Beach since 1996. Bathing Water Classifications are as follows: 2016 - Poor 2015 - Sufficient 2014 - Sufficient 2013 - Good 2012 - Sufficient 2011 - Sufficient 2010 - Good
3. Identified Pressures: Map 2: Bathing Water Catchment 3.1 Potential pressures in the catchment assessed as posing no risk: Birds congregating within the identified area Birds Bird colony 3.2 Potential pressures in the catchment assessed as posing risk: Nature: Animal Foul (specifically dog and horse) directly on beach and indirectly through surface water discharge during and post high rainfall events Animal Fouling Other Moderate Risk occasional < 72 hours Widely recognised as containing high concentrations of E. Coli. Widely recognised as containing high concentrations of E. Coli. Most likely during and following high intensity rainfall periods On-going anti-dog fouling publicity campaigns and signage The septic tank serving Loughshinny is primary treatment only and discharges to the Irish Sea, to the north of the bathing area. Septic tank Septic Tank
Nature: High Risk often < 48 hours The risk of microbial impact on the designated bathing water from the septic tank may be significant as sewage is subject to primary treatment only and discharges via a short outfall to the north of the bathing area. The MPP has been assessed in accordance with the Microbial Pollution Potential (MPP) Grades for sewage outfalls adapted from WHO 2003 - detailed in the EPA Guidance document Guidance for Development of Bathing Water Profiles for Bathing Water Quality Regulations 2008 (July 2010). Microbial Pollution Potential (MPP) = HIGH Water Quality Impact (WQI) = D The 95 percentiles monitoring results from the last 4 years is estimated at WQI grade D with a value over 500 intestinal enterococci (cfu/100ml) Microbial Pollution Risk (MPR) = SEVERE The risk is highest during heavy rainfall when increased flows to the septic tank due to misconnections decreases the residence time and thus the treatment. The existing septic tank serving Loughshinny is to be decommissioned & network flows will be diverted to a proposed new pumping station in Loughshinny car park where it will be transferred for treatment at Barnageeragh WWTP Skerries. Following construction works it is expected that the new pumping station will be commissioned by the end of Q4 2017. In the event of bathing water not achieving sufficient quality bathers shall be notified of a potential risk to the water quality by Fingal County Council and advised not to use the bathing area. The information is provided via notice board at the beach, by Lifeguards on duty and via the Fingal website www.fingalcoco.ie this warning system is currently operational during the bathing season. Nature: There are a number of surface water outfalls to the stream discharging centrally to the bathing area. This surface water system takes surface water from housing estates within Loughshinny and some new housing developments in the Village. Misconnections to the surface water system Other High Risk often < 48 hours The flow in the Stream may be considered as small. There is no hydrometric data currently available for this site. Microbial Pollution was assessed in accordance with the Microbial Pollution Potential (MPP) Grades for sewage discharges to rivers adapted from Bartram and Rees 2000 - detailed in the EPA Guidance document Guidance for Development of Bathing Water Profiles for Bathing Water Quality Regulations 2008 (July 2010). Water Quality Impact was assessed based on the 95 percentiles for the monitoring results from the last 4 years. Results from these two factors were used to assess Microbial Pollution Risk. Microbial Pollution Potential (MPP) = VERY HIGH Misconnections discharge directly to the stream. Given the dilution factor in the stream and the fact that the Stream discharges directly to the designated bathing water the MPP is considered VERY HIGH. Water Quality Impact (WQI) = D The 95 percentiles monitoring results from the last 4 years is estimated at WQI grade D with a value over 500 intestinal enterococci (cfu/100ml) Microbial Pollution Risk (MPR) = SEVERE *The MPR is estimated as SEVERE based on EPA guidelines and may apply to the impact of misconnections on the designated bathing water however further investigation is required for this determination to be conclusive Risk from misconnections to quality of surface water is ongoing. A detailed survey was conducted in the Loughshinny area in July 2013 to eliminate misconnections. Further investigation is required to identify misconnections to surface water and to mitigate the impact on the local stream and subsequently the designated bathing water. The private dwellings in the upper catchment are not connected to the main sewerage network and so have some form of on-site Wastewater Treatment System.
Nature: Septic tanks/on site waste water treatment systems Septic Tank Moderate Risk occasional < 24 hours Septic tanks and On-site Treatment Systems which are not functioning correctly or which are not maintained may result in discharges to surface waters in the vicinity. The risk is considered to be moderate The risk is greatest after a period of heavy rainfall Septic tanks in Loughshinny may be inspected as part of the National Inspection Plan 3.3 Other Risks: Assessment of the potential for proliferation of cyanobacteria: Monitoring on the beach has been carried out since 1996. There is no indication of significant potential for proliferation of Cyanobacteria on this beach Proposed management measures for cyanobacteria: Assessment of the potential for proliferation of macroalgae: N/A N/A Proposed management measures for macroalgae: Assessment of the potential for proliferation of marine phytoplankton: Monitoring on the beach has been carried out since 1996. There is no indication of significant potential for proliferation of Macroalgae on this beach N/A Proposed management measures for marine phytoplankton: Additional Information: Monitoring on the beach has been carried out since 1996. There is no indication of significant potential for proliferation of Marine Phytoplankton on this beach ne 4 Bathing Water Status From Previous Sampling Years: Loughshinny Beach 2012 2013 2014 2015 Sufficient Quality Good Quality Sufficient Quality Poor Quality 5 Contact Contact: Fingal County Council Email: bathingwaters@fingalcoco.ie Address: Environment Division, Environment and Water Services Department, County Hall, Swords, Co. Dublin Phone: 01 8905000