Is it safe to swim in the Liffey?
2 min read
Asked by: Amy Green
The Chief Medical Officer of the Eastern Health Board, Dr Barry O’Donnell, advised that swimming in the traditional stretch of the River Liffey should not take place for health and safety reasons. In consequence the President of the Leinster Branch of the I.A.S.A.
How dirty is the River Liffey?
The River Liffey in Dublin is a major carrier of pollutants into seawater, scientists have warned. The River Liffey in Dublin is a major carrier of pollutants into seawater, scientists have warned. Researchers at Dublin City University say the ongoing use of fossil fuels presents a serious problem.
Why is the River Liffey so dirty?
So why did the smell persist? Part of the problem with the tenacity of the Liffey’s pollution, and its associated odors, is that the river is a tidal one. It ebbs and flows into polluted Dublin Bay into which raw sewage continued to be dumped long after the creation and expansion of municipal sewage treatment plants.
Where is it safe to swim in Dublin?
The beaches and bathing areas in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown are popular swimming spots all year round; hundreds of swimmers visit Seapoint, Sandycove, the Forty Foot, Hawk’s Cliff, and Killiney every day of the year.
Are Irish rivers safe to swim in?
All Irish waters are cold enough to cause cold water shock just about every day of the year. Those who swim regularly in these waters can acclimatise and reduce the reactions, but if that isn’t you, you can avoid cold water shock by entering the water slowly.
Does the Liffey smell?
The section of the river Liffey in Dublin city centre is notorious for the stench emanating from it, particularly at low tide when the riverbed is exposed.
How Clean Is Liffey?
Since the closure of the Clondalkin Paper Mills years ago, the Camac tributary ceased to pollute. This, together with other improvements, now puts the Liffey at the top section of the list of the healthiest European capital waterways.
Is it safe to swim in Dublin Bay?
Lobby group SOS Dublin Bay is warning that one-fifth of swimmers in the capital have become ill as a result of the quality of the water. A survey of more than 1,200 found that 21.8% had experienced adverse health effects from the water – including diarrhoea, skin rashes and gastroenteritis.
