Trouble in the water for Lilliput

Lilliput has failed to comply with the minimum mandatory standards for water quality because of either human or animal waste, it emerged last week.In a recent assessment, the local bathing and activity centre on Lough Ennell, where annual triathlons, aquathons and daily water activities take place, is one of nine areas across Ireland deemed to be unsafe by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).Lilliput lost its blue flag seven years ago but despite this fact, the area has remained popular, as the Jonathan Swift Centre based there attracts more than 200 kids on a daily basis, and is the main training area for the local tri club.It is believed the presence of toxic algal blooms, which may be recognized by discoloration of the water, and are often green in colour, but can be brown or even red, and which multiply during hot weather, have made the water unsafe. Locals believe it is the River Brosna, which flows into Lough Ennell at the opposite shore to Lilliput that is causing the damage.Speaking to the Westmeath Examiner this week, an irate Frankie Wright of Lilliput said in his twelve years as owner of the adventure centre, he has never seen anyone feeling sick or unwell after swimming at the Lough Ennell location:"Lilliput is used for events all the time, we have the annual triathlon and aquathon, we have 200 kids using this centre every day, and the local tri club train here three times a week , and in my twelve years here, I've seen anyone getting sick or developing a rash or anything like that," commented Frankie Wright."What I'm really annoyed about is the coverage RTÉ gave us, in fact I am livid," he stated. "They had a picture of Ireland with Lilliput written slap bang in the middle of it. The fact is the blue flag has been gone for at least seven years now, and there's more to a blue flag than just water quality," explained Frankie Wright."There's things like a life guard, first aid, and litter control that is all taken into account. But we have the cleanest facilities here and people simply wouldn't use Lilliput if they felt it was unsafe to swim here, so I'm quite annoyed with RTÉ, especially in difficult times like these."We have cleaned up Lilliput since coming here twelve years ago, there's not a spot of litter and it is very safe," he finished.The EPA have warned local authorities to take adequate measures to resolve the problem, including looking at the provision of appropriate wastewater treatment facilities.The vast majority of the 131 bathing areas across Ireland are of good quality, with the EPA saying that over 80% of bathing areas met higher guideline standards, which was a 4% increase compared to the previous bathing season.