Donegal County Council has issued a precautionary warning for bathers at four Donegal beaches this weekend.
Due to a Status Yellow rain warning for Friday and forecasted heavy rain for the rest of the weekend until Monday, the council has a 5-day warning in place at: Lisfannon in Buncrana, Lady’s Bay in Buncrana, Bundoran and Fintra in Killybegs.
The warning is in place to protect bathers from pollution which may come from storm influx.
The heavy rain causes storm water to run off fields and houses into the river, which usually deposits into the bathing waters resulting in a higher than normal E.coli.
To reduce the risk of illness, beach users should take the following precautions:
- Avoid swallowing or splashing water
- Wash your hands before handling food
- Avoid swimming with an open cut or wound
- Avoid swimming if you are pregnant or have a weakened immune system.
Higher levels of bacteria are usually short-lived and most bathers are unlikely to experience any illness, according to Donegal County Council.
