Bathers have been advised not to swim at a popular Co Antrim beach after a water sample “failed to meet standards”.
Mid and East Antrim Borough Council issued a weekend warning on social media that entering the sea at Ballygally beach off the Coast Road north of Larne was “not advised”.
A council spokesperson said the local authority had been notified by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and and Rural Affairs (DAERA), that a sample of the water at the beach had raised concerns.
“We have been notified by DAERA that the recent bathing water sample at Ballygally has failed to meet standards,” the spokesperson said.
“People are advised not to enter the water until such times as levels return to acceptable.”
In a follow-up post on Sunday, the council said DAERA had confirmed the sample “meets the bathing water standards for faecal indicator bacteria”.
“The rise in bacteria may have been caused by the heavy rain we have had over the last few days,” they said.
“We would always advise extra caution when swimming after heavy rain due to the risk of contamination. Good hygiene is always recommended, washing hands and face and try not to ingest sea water.”
The council said DAERA staff will continue to monitor the water at Ballygally beach until September 15
The beach has previously been granted a UK Seaside Award for the quality of its water for bathing, while last year DAERA classed its water quality for swimmers as “excellent”.
