Eyes Wide Shut: Assessments of Outdoor/ Coastal Swimming Water Quality in Ireland

Abstract

Water is one of the most important ecosystems for human survival. However, although vastly improved, bathing water quality in Ireland is still jeopardised by a range of factors, including poor sewage management. Concerns have been raised over the increasing range of pollutants that may adversely impact swimmers. This is particularly problematic, given the rising number of people engaging in wild swimming since the pandemic. Not only have numbers increased, but so has the swimming season, far beyond the traditional summer period. Swimming provides numerous health benefits; however, bathing water monitoring and certain forms of water treatment are still often confined to the summer period. This may leave members of the public, who are largely unaware of such limitations, at considerable risk. Improved public awareness of the pollution risks of wild swimming is required. Increased water quality monitoring is also suggested, alongside improved year-round waste-water treatment. Improvements in the use of sensors, as well as engagement with citizen science and satellite monitoring may help improve the monitoring of bathing water quality into the future.