Irish Water is apologising to residents in East Clare, who fear their health is suffering as a result of a foul odour emanating from a near-by sewage treatment plant.
Residents in Ballycannon Heights, Meelick say the problem has been ongoing for a number of years, but has become particularly bad in light of the warm weather in recent days.
Homeowners in Ballycannon Heights claim they were assured when the estate was built in the 1980’s, that the nearby Wastewater Treatment Plant would be shut down – but this has never happened.
Now they says that several times a year they have been subjected to foul odours eminating from the plant, which they’re convinced is having a major impact on their health.
One of them, Majella Sheehan says she’s utterly frustrated that little has been done to rectify the situation.
Sam Browne, who also lives there, believes a pit on the site, which he’s described as somewhat like a slurry pit, poses further problems.
He inists that children’s lives could be put at risk on account of it.
Irish Water is being called on to provide a permanent solution to the issue once and for all.
Local Councillor Cathal Crowe wants the waste water treatment plant to be shut down and for the system to instead be connected to the Limerick main drainage.
Clare County Council has added odour-treating chemicals today as an interim solution but Councillor Crowe says that won’t solve the problem.
In a statment to Clare FM, Irish Water says it and Clare County Council are currently investigating complaints of odours from the Ballycannon Wastewater Treatment Plant during the recent spell of warm weather.
They’ve arranged for chemical treatment to alleviate any odour issues and the treatment plant will be fully desludged and cleaned in the coming weeks.
Irish water says it “will continue to monitor the situation to ensure the treatment process is operating effectively” and is apologising to “residents in the area for any inconvenience caused as a result of this issue”.
But residents says they’ve lost faith in the authorities, having heard numerous reassurances.
They’ve told Clare FM they now want action.
Full Statement from Irish Water:
Irish Water and Clare County Council are currently investigating complaints of odours from the Ballycannon Wastewater Treatment Plant during the recent spell of warm weather. On foot of this, we have arranged for chemical treatment to begin today which should alleviate any odour issues.
In addition, the treatment plant will be fully desludged and cleaned in the coming weeks. We will continue to monitor the situation to ensure the treatment process is operating effectively.
Irish Water would like to apologise to residents in the area for any inconvenience caused as a result of this issue.
