Assessing the water quality response to an alternative sewage disposal strategy at bathing sites on the east coast of Ireland. Issue 1 (15th February 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bedri, Zeinab; O'Sullivan, John J.; Deering, Louise A.; Demeter, Katalin; Masterson, Bartholomew; Meijer, Wim G.; O'Hare, Gregory
• Is Part Of: Marine pollution bulletin. Volume 91:Issue 1(2015)
• Page Start: 330
• Page End: 346
• Publication Date: 2015-02-15
• Subjects: Sewage discharges -- Three-dimensional model -- Bathing water quality -- Escherichia coli; Marine pollution -- Periodicals; Marine Biology -- Periodicals; Water Pollution -- Periodicals; Mer -- Pollution -- Périodiques; Publications périodiques; Pollution des mers; Lutte antipollution; Electronic journals; 363.7394
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2014.11.008
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0025-326X

Abstract

Highlights: A three-dimensional model assessed the bathing water quality under new sewage management system. Model simulated water quality under dry and two wet weather conditions. Dry weather scenarios indicated an improvement in bathing water quality. Water quality may still be poor under wet weather conditions due to storm overflows. Abstract: A three-dimensional model is used to assess the bathing water quality of Bray and Killiney bathing sites in Ireland following changes to the sewage management system. The model, firstly calibrated to hydrodynamic and water quality data from the period prior to the upgrade of the Wastewater Treatment Works (WwTW), was then used to simulate Escherichia coli ( E. coli ) distributions for discharge scenarios of the periods prior to and following the upgrade of the WwTW under dry and wet weather conditions. E. coli distributions under dry weather conditions demonstrate that the upgrade in the WwTW has remarkably improved the bathing water quality to a Blue Flag status. The new discharge strategy is expected to drastically reduce the rainfall-related incidents in which environmental limits of the Bathing Water Directive are breached. However, exceedances to these limits may still occur under wet weather conditions at Bray bathing site due to storm overflows that may still be discharged through two sea outfalls offshore of Bray bathing site.