Swimming is banned at Newcastle harbour again

Swimming is banned at Newcastle harbour again

12 July 2023

SEA swimmers have been banned from the water in Newcastle for the second time in three weeks following the discovery of the E.coli bug which poses a major risk to public health.

The first ban was imposed on June 16 with swimmers again advised to stay out of the water last Saturday following the latest testing of samples by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA).

The discovery of the bacteria — which can cause vomiting and diarrhoea — was made last Saturday and came 48 hours after torrential rain two days earlier.

E.coli can also lead to stomach pains and cramps and in worst case scenarios, the bug can lead to kidney failure if not properly managed.

Advice to avoid going into the sea was posted on Newry, Mourne and Down Council’s social media channels warning people not to enter the water on Saturday, with the all clear for swimmers to return to the water coming 24 hours later.

But once again concerns are being raised, with the local authority confirming that DAERA is responsible for monitoring the quality of the designated bathing water sites including Newcastle.

DAERA, which undertakes weekly water quality tests at the district’s designated bathing waters between the end of May and mid-September, also monitors the water quality at nearby Murlough, Kilclief and Ballyhornan where with no major issues were reported at these particular locations last weekend.

E.coli and the presence of intestinal enterococci, which indicates the presence of faecal material,  has previously been inked to Newcastle’s sewage 

treatment plant located at the harbour, with  Northern Ireland Water insisting that the discovery of the bacteria was not related to the facility.

Politicians are again concerned that the harmful bugs were discovered at the height of the bathing season when Newcastle was bursting at the seams with people making the most of the glorious weather and the first week of the traditional July holidays.

They plan to raise the issue with the local authority.

Mournes councillor, Willie Clarke, has expressed concern at the latest swimming ban and said the source of the bug needs to be identified.

“This is the second worrying incident in three weeks and it is now essential that a meeting involving all the key players to discuss this issue takes place as soon as possible,” he said,

“I called for this to happen in the wake of last month's incident and it must now happen. There must be no further delays given the seriousness of this issue.”

Cllr Clarke said the sewage treatment plant is located at the harbour and uses ultra violet light to monitor the quality of the water discharged into the sea to ensure it does not contain harmful bacteria.

“We are still waiting on answers from the last incident and three weeks later swimmers were advised to stay out of the water. We need to be told why the water is being contaminated,” he continued,

“The discovery of E.coli is disturbing and there has been considerable investment in Newcastle’s sewage treatment works.”

Cllr Clarke said all Mournes councillors need to meet with DAERA, NI Water, the Environment Agency and local council to get to the bottom of what’s going on.

He added: “I will be calling for that to happen as soon as possible. We are in the middle of the bathing season and something like this happening is not good for the resort’s image and has the potential to negatively impact on the local tourism industry.

“As I’ve said before, we have not been given any assurances that something like this will not happen again.”