Wexford County Council reassure public brown sea water is just ‘Algal Bloom’

WEXFORD County Council has received numerous complaints of areas of brown water in north Wexford beaches and the hot weather is now causing it to smell.

Over the past few weeks Wexford County Council has received reports of areas of discoloured water at some beaches along the east coast of Wexford, including Courtown, Ballymoney, Curracloe and Rosslare.

Communications officer for Wexford County Council David Minogue said they have investigated these reports and advise that they are caused by the presence of algae referred to as an ‘Algal Bloom’. ‘This is a naturally-ocurring phenomenon that happens from time to time and it is not hazardous to humans,’ added Mr Minogue.

Wexford County Council regularly samples and tests the bathing water quality at 17 beaches (including the ones listed above) between May and September each year.

Members of the public will be reassured to learn that all results continue to comply with the stringent EU Bathing Water Standards and the council have had no pollution incidents to report in 2018 at any of the beaches along the east coast of Wexford.