Treatment plant issues affects lilliput water quality council

Lilliput’s failure to meet EU water quality standards for bathing areas is due to “issues” arising from the operation of the nearby wastewater treatment plant, Westmeath County Council has said.

The council said that it was “disappointed” that the popular Lough Ennell amenity was one of seven bathing areas in the country that failed to meet EU standards. In a statement issued on Tuesday, the local authority revealed that it has agreed a management plan with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the plant.

“This plan sets out key actions to be undertaken to ensure there is no repeat of last year’s poor performance. The council will continue to monitor the bathing water quality and will publish these results on the EPA website and on a notice board at Lilliput.

“The council are confident that these actions will result in improved water quality and a restoration of good bathing water status in time.”

The overall water quality at Lilliput was classed as “poor” by the EPA when tested for E. Coli status. While Lilliput failed to meet the EU’s new stricter water quality standards, the water quality at Portnashangan on Lough Owel and The Cut at Lough Lene were classed as “excellent” by EPA inspectors.

Overall, three quarters of Ireland’s beaches were rated as excellent when the EPA tested for levels of microbiological contaminants that cause gastro-intestinal illnesses.