Bathing ban on Lough Derg as algae reappears

A swimming ban has been imposed on the River Shannon's largest lake, Lough Derg, by North Tipperary County Council following the appearance of a toxin algae in the lake.

In response to the blue-green algae, the council has erected "no bathing" signs at all amenity areas on the North Tipperary shores for the third summer in a row.

The appearance of the algae bloom has been brought about by excessive phosphates in the lake combined with the recent warm weather, according to a spokeswoman for the council.

She said yesterday the move "is a precautionary public health measure and will be reviewed on a weekly basis", though she added that in the past two years the signs have remained in place until September.

The spokeswoman said that bathers could get skin rashes from the water.

In response, Mr Paddy Mackey of the Save Our Lough Derg group (SOLD) said the group was very disappointed that the ban was put in place.

"When I was a kid, I never heard of the word 'pollution', but the children living in the vicinity of the lake are being deprived of enjoying the lake and that is very sad."

Mr Mackey said that improvements to the water quality of the lake had been "slight".

"It will take a long time and it is up to each part of the community to play its part, everyone must take responsibility in protecting what is a great natural resource. Hopefully, with the new monitoring programme and the EU Water Framework Directive, the situation will improve."

Studies had shown that half the phosphates in the lake came from farms, prompting the council to introduce bylaws aimed at reducing the substance entering waterways.

According to the council spokeswoman, 89 per cent of the farmers in the catchment area have responded to the first phase of the scheme. The more environment friendly practices by 700 or so farmers and the building of sewage treatment plants have reduced the amount of phosphates entering the lake, according to the council.

A spokeswoman for Clare County Council said they were satisfied there was currently no problem with the water quality of Lough Derg on the Clare side.