Madam, - I see Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council is still trotting out the same old guff about algae in response to any fears expressed regarding bathing water quality in their area.
A report by Olivia Kelly in your edition of August 6th refers to my letter of August 2nd, in which I pointed out that this was the same tactic the council adopted last year. It still, if you forgive the pun, holds no water.
I would ask the council to explain how the harmless algae it claims is the cause of all shortcomings at Seapoint could account for readings which grossly exceeded the permitted limits for water quality, in relation to faecal matter, in August and September 2007? Furthermore, why was the Blue Flag removed last August? Oh, obviously the dreaded algae again.
The council now admits to overflows from the nearby sewage pumping station due to "unprecedented heavy rainfalls" - which are hardly "unprecedented" when the same occurred only a year ago. I suppose they'll try to have us believe the "sewage" station is not pumping "sewage" at all, merely algae! - Yours, etc,
DAVID MARLBOROUGH,
Kenilworth Park,
Dublin 6w.