Swimming banned in parts of River Barrow because of E Coli

SWIMMING in parts of the River Barrow has been banned by Carlow Co Council after dangerous levels of E Coli were detected in Bagenalstown.

Dangerous levels of the bacteria were discovered near Bagenalstown swimming pool during routine testing on Thursday 26 June, with an immediate ban on swimming being put into place.

In a statement to The Nationalist yesterday, Monday, the council said: “The most common health issue correlated with swimming in this type of water is gastroenteritis. Other minor illnesses include eye, ear, nose and/or throat infections and skin rashes. Following consultation with the senior health officer in the HSE’s Public Health Unit, a bathing prohibition notice was immediately put in place. Signage was erected at the bathing area and the public were made aware through local media outlets and Carlow Co Council’s social media channels of the bathing prohibition notice.” 

 There are just two officially-designated swimming areas on the Barrow in Co Carlow: Clashganny and ‘area 16’, near Bagenalstown swimming pool.

There has been some confusion in public as to whether the swimming pool itself has been affected by the pollution, but Mark Devine, chairperson of Bagenalstown Swimming Club, clarified that the pool does not use water from the River Barrow.

“The affected area is known as area 16 or locally as The Cannons, right next to the pool. The pool has been connected to the town’s water mains for the past 12 years, so it’s safe and clean. There’s no problem with it. The pool is open as always,” explained Mark.

Water samples are taken on a fortnightly basis by the council in the two designated swimming areas of the Barrow and sent for analysis for microbiological parameters, the results of which are reported to both the Environmental Protection Agency and the HSE Public Health Unit.

After detecting the high levels of E Coli on Thursday, the council’s environmental department carried out investigations into a possible source of where the bacteria came from. They concluded that the bacteria could be “attributed to run-off from upstream agricultural lands” and that “the situation has been exacerbated as a result of recent torrential rain downpours, combined with water levels in the River Barrow being at very low levels affecting dilution rates”.

The council has since carried out more tests on Friday, the results of which were expected to be ready yesterday evening.

A decision on whether the bathing prohibition notice can be lifted or extended will be made based on the outcome of these test results.