Swimming restrictions have been introduced at two Dublin beaches and could remain in place until the end of July due to concerns over a potential wastewater overflow.
Fingal County Council has issued precautionary "Do Not Swim" notices for Rush North Beach and Rush South Beach after being informed of issues at the nearby Tower Bay Wastewater Pumping Station.
The warning comes during a challenging week for several bathing locations across Dublin, with heavy and prolonged rainfall already affecting water quality at a number of beaches.
According to Uisce Éireann, two pumps at the Tower Bay facility failed on 7 June.
While one unit was successfully restored to service, the second pump could not be restarted and now requires replacement.
The utility said investigations found the problem was the result of normal wear and tear.
A new pump is not expected to be installed until the end of July, prompting concerns about the station's ability to cope with increased wastewater volumes during periods of heavy rain.
Although no overflow has occurred, local authorities say there is a risk that one could happen while the station is operating with reduced capacity.
In a statement, Fingal County Council said the restrictions are being introduced as a precaution to safeguard public health.
The council said warning signs would be erected at both beaches and noted that forecast rainfall in the coming days could increase pressure on the wastewater system.
Officials have warned that the restrictions may remain in place for as long as two months, depending on when the replacement equipment is installed and operational.
The local authority added that the pumping station will be monitored daily while temporary measures remain in effect.
The closures come despite both Rush beaches recently receiving "excellent" bathing water quality results from samples taken earlier this month.
Beachgoers are being urged to observe the notices and avoid entering the water until the restrictions are lifted.
Anyone seeking up-to-date information on bathing water quality can check local beach noticeboards or consult the EPA's Beaches.ie service.
