Their demands come amidst growing concerns about public health and the environmental degradation of this once popular beach, which has become increasingly hazardous due to frequent discharges of raw sewage.
David Turner, chairman of the Sandymount and Merrion Residents Association (SAMRA), told the Irish Independent that raw sewage has been discharged onto the beach approximately 10 to 12 times each year.
Turner describes the situation as “disgraceful” and said that the sewage contamination has made the beach “unsafe and unsuitable for public use”.
A spokesperson for Irish Water acknowledged the challenges posed by the outdated sewer system in Sandymount, built in the early twentieth century, and said it is working to address the issue.
The area has reportedly become inundated with unpleasant smells, including “sewage, algae, and dog poo,” further exacerbating the public health threat.
Residents and beachgoers have been left grappling with the consequences of these frequent discharges.
Turner notes that the sewage includes not just human waste but also sanitary products, condoms and other debris, creating a dangerous environment for anyone who might come into contact with it.
“The raw sewage released onto Sandymount Beach creates an immediate public health hazard,” he said.
“If a private company were found to be polluting like this, it would be shut down immediately.
“Irish Water’s inaction means people are unknowingly exposing themselves to hazardous conditions on the beach, leading to illnesses that could have been prevented.
“The situation has been ongoing for decades, with Irish Water failing to provide even basic measures like hazard signage or a clear timeline for improvements.
“It’s shocking that despite having evidence and public outcry, there’s been no significant response or change from Irish Water or the EPA,” he added.
The Sandymount and Merrion Residents’ Association has taken formal steps to address the problem, writing letters to Dublin City Council, Irish Water, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) last May.
The letters outlined the persistent issues and called for immediate action.
“There is a glaring lack of engineering solutions, signage and automatic cleanup procedures,” a SAMRA spokesperson said.
They argue that while responsibilities are clearly divided—Irish Water handles technical and operational aspects, and Dublin City Council manages cleanup above the high-water line—there has been a failure to address the problem effectively.
“What matters is that Irish Water has known about this problem for years but has not taken the necessary actions to resolve it,” Mr Turner said.
“We need them to erect signage and provide a clear timeline for system upgrades and ensure regular clean-ups of the most affected areas.”
Having previously called on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to treat the sewage on the beach as a “serious health issue”, the residents’ association said they now feel that the agency is “turning a blind eye” to the situation.
“A sample of the contaminated water could highlight the severity of the issue and force action, but Irish Water and the EPA are failing to address the problem adequately,” Mr Turner added.
In response, Irish Water has acknowledged the issue and outlined their ongoing efforts to address it.
A spokesperson from Irish Water said: “We are committed to continuously maintaining, upgrading, and developing critical water and wastewater infrastructure to protect and enhance the environment while enabling communities to thrive.”
The spokesperson highlighted that Irish Water operates over 1,000 wastewater treatment plants and 26,000 kilometres of public sewers, treating 1.2 billion litres of wastewater daily.
Irish Water acknowledges that while the primary responsibility for monitoring and managing bathing water quality lies with local authorities, its operations can still affect water quality.
They said: “While primary responsibility for the monitoring and managing of bathing waters lies with local authorities, Irish Water recognises that its activities can impact bathing waters in some locations.”
The utility pointed out that factors such as dog and bird faeces, runoff from roads, upstream agriculture and misconnections also play a role in water quality issues.
In response to the Sandymount situation, Irish Water is engaging with various stakeholders, including the Dublin Bay Bathing Water Taskforce and the National Bathing Water Expert Group.
The spokesperson added: “We are continuing to work proactively with all stakeholders to support improvements in bathing water quality, protecting and enhancing our coastal and inland waterways.”
The spokesperson also acknowledged the challenges posed by the outdated sewer system in Sandymount, built in the early twentieth century.
They said: “The sewer system in Sandymount was built in the 1900s and, as was typical at the time, it carries both wastewater from homes and businesses and water that is drained off roads and pavements.
“Irish Water is assessing the combined network to understand its current limitations through a Drainage Area Plan and local monitoring,” they added.
The spokesperson noted: “Since 2021, incremental improvements in bathing water quality at Sandymount Strand have been recorded,” with 100pc of samples meeting the required standards in 2023, up from 75pc in 2021.”
Dublin City Council was contacted for comment.
