Salthill’s Blue Flag at risk

Date Published: 09-Sep-2008

CONCERNS have been expressed at the future of the Blue Flag status of Salthill Beach after waters at the strand were again discovered to contain high levels of sewage in recent days.

In the past six weeks, regular tests carried out by Galway City Council to examine the quality of the water at Salthill have revealed levels of faecal coliforms that are above the maximum levels required by Blue Flag Standards.

Those guidelines state that ‘good bathing water’ should not contain faecal coliform levels in excess of 100 per 100 mls of water – at one point in recent weeks, samples taken at Salthill Beach have recorded levels of 450 while, last week, a faecal coliform level of 190 was recorded. At the end of July tests also returned evidence of 180 faecal coliforms per 100mls of water.

Commenting on the figures, Green Party City Councillor Niall Ó Brolcháin said the fact that results recorded at the beach now regularly indicated high levels of sewage in the water did put the Blue Flag status of the beach at risk.

“This could have something to do with the……