Sewage has been identified as a serious source of pollution in two Bearna streams that is causing major contamination at the sea near the village’s pier.

Sampling results of water at Truskey Stream and at Bearna Pier reveal levels of bacteria that indicate fecal matter in the water were more than 50 times the acceptable limit for bathing water.

As well as environmental concerns, the lack of sufficient sewage treatment capacity could halt any further housing developments in the village.

The sampling by Galway County Council, in the past four years but mostly in 2021, showed astronomical levels of E. Coli and Enterococci in Bearna’s main water body.

One of the main causes of the pollution, according to an internal Council report, was “sewage via connections between the storm or surface water networks and foul networks”.

Another likely source, according to the Council’s sampling plan, was “animal slurry via overland paths in the agricultural areas on the edge of the village”.

Average CFU levels for E. Coli and Enterococci, however, suggested that sewage was more likely the cause of contamination than animals.

The sampling found a source of E. Coli “in the upper reaches of Truskey”, a small stream in Bearna.

It said concentrations of bacteria indicating fecal matter increase just upstream from where the Donnolly Stream meets Truskey, which indicated a source of bacteria between this point and the Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP).

High concentrations of both bacteria were found in Donnolly Stream, and the County Council concluded from the data that “there are significant sources of contamination in the Truskey from the WWTP to the sea and additional sources in the Donnolly”.

It said both streams needed to be surveyed further to “isolate the locations” of contamination.

The sampling showed there was some exceedances of E. Coli and Enterococci upstream on Truskey but the major exceedances are first detected at the confluence of the Truskey and Donnolly streams, which is in the village at Freeport, according to maps contained in the report, released to the Tribune under Freedom of Information (FOI).

Mean CFU values of Enterococci detected at the Truskey Stream confluence with Donnolly Stream, and Donnolly stream confluence with Truskey Stream, were 5,373 and 10,040 respectively.

It was 6,157 and 5,811 at Truskey Stream Bridge at Bearna Pier and at the pipe inlet to Bearna Pier, according to the data. Large mean CFU values of E. Coli were detected further upstream but exploded closer to the village.

Pictured: Bearna Pier: levels of bacteria in the water more than 50 times the acceptable limit.