A swimming ban is likely to remain at Kilkee beach in Co Clare until midweek at the earliest after two rising main pipes burst over the weekend causing a possible wastewater contamination of the popular beach.
Irish Water said crews are working to repair the bursts as quickly as possible.
As a result, Clare County Council in consultation with the HSE has placed a bathing prohibition notice at Kilkee beach which will remain in place for a number of days pending repairs, as well as water sampling and testing this week.
This is the third year in a row that a malfunction in the Irish Water sewage infrastructure has caused the beach to close to swimmers.
Meanwhile, it could be another four years before a full upgrade of the wastewater and sewage infrastructure, which was due to be finished this year, takes place.
Councillor Cillian Murphy who lives in the town has now written to all 7 Clare Oireachtas members asking that they as a group make a united representation to Minister Darragh O'Brien, calling for Irish Water to prioritise the development and bring the completion date forward as a matter of urgency.
"Once again Kilkee has been the victim of the abject failure of Irish Water to deliver, in any sort of a timely manner or even at all, security for the water quality in Kilkee Bay," councillor Murphy said.
"The sea is what we have in Kilkee, it is fundamental to the economy of the town and wider west Clare areas. Anything that impacts negatively on the perception by the public of the quality of the sea-based experience has large scale consequences, both direct and immediate in the tills of the local business owners and their sustainability, and in the experience of those who live and visit the town," he said.
"There is also indirect and long-term reputational damage to the town as an attractive place to live, work and visit," he added.
