Grattan Beach will not get Blue Flag until 2017
Water quality at Grattan Beach was ‘excellent’ throughout 2014 but Blue Flag status will take at least another two years to achieve, it has been confirmed.
Galway City Council has conceded that Grattan Beach, between Mutton Island and Nimmo’s Pier, will not get the coveted Blue Flag until 2017 at the earliest.
The local authority said although sampling had confirmed water quality at the beach was “excellent” in 2014, this was not the case in previous years, which is taken into account by Blue Flag assessments.
A total of 16 samples were taken in the bathing season just gone, and all but one sample was deemed “excellent”. The other, taken on September 1, was deemed “sufficient” by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
In a briefing, Director of Services, Tom Connell, said: “An assessment will be carried out by the EPA on the classification status of Grattan Beach for 2015. It is likely however based on the results of the four-years assessment period (2011-2014) that the bathing water will be classified as ‘sufficient’.
“While the results from this year (2014) were predominantly excellent with the exception of one sample, the results from earlier years influences the classification. In order to improve the status, works are required at the combined storm overflow which discharges in the vicinity of the beach.”
Mr Connell said during heavy rainfall the beach can be subject to short-term pollution as a result of “combined storm overflow (CSO)” near Grattan Beach.
The CSO, he said, was due to be improved as part of the Galway Sewerage Scheme, and they currently “being progressed by Irish Water”.
In relation to attaining a Blue Flag, Mr Connell said: “In order to achieve Blue Flag status, there are 33 strict criteria that must be met. One of these is in relation to water quality, and for the beach to be eligible for the Blue Flag, it is a requirement that the stringent standards for water quality results for the previous four bathing seasons are met.
“This criterion has not been met by Grattan Beach, based on the results for the past four years. Assuming that all results for future bathing seasons were within the parameters, it would be 2017 at the earliest before Grattan Beach would be eligible to apply for a Blue Flag.”
He added there is no point applying for a Blue Flag, until the works on the combined storm overflow are carried out by Irish Water.