Pollution of the Shannon's largest lake, Lough Derg, has resulted in potentially toxic algal blooms, prompting North Tipperary County Council to erect warning signs at prime bathing areas. Peter Gleeson reports.
Council spokesman Mr Frank O'Halloran said tests had shown the presence of blue-green algae which had the potential to become toxic. He warned that the blooms may manifest as a darkish scum on or close to the shoreline of the lake.
The council said children should be kept away from the shoreline as contact with the scum may cause skin irritation. Dog-owners should also keep their pets away from the water and shoreline scums.
The warnings follow the deaths of two dogs a number of years ago after drinking water containing toxic algae from the lake.
This is the fourth successive year that the council has been forced to erect the warning signs. The environmental group Save Our Lough Derg (SOLD) has called for action to prevent the causes of pollution.
"These blooms will continue to cause problems until there is a concerted community effort aimed at cleaning up Lough Derg," said SOLD spokesman Mr Paddy Mackey.
SOLD says the algae growth is caused by nutrients getting into the lake due to run-offs of fertilisers and slurry from farms, discharges from industries, and from malfunctioning domestic septic tanks.
The council said the Environmental Protection Agency's 2003 River Water Quality Report identified "a significant improvement" in water quality in the lake since 1998. However, nitrates were elevated in a number of rivers flowing into the lake.
The council said ongoing improvements in waste water treatment plants and the promotion of its agriculture by-laws would further reduce pollution.