It has been alleged that the slick on Dungloe bay is caused by a third party directly polluting the water.
Fianna Fail Cllr Enda Bonner, Sinn Féin Cllr Marie Therese Gallagher, and Independent Cllr Michael Choilm Mac Giolla Easbuig yesterday attended a meeting with five Irish Water representatives in the County Council offices.
The meeting was called by Cllr Mac Giolla Easbuig following the effluent seepage in Dungloe two weeks ago.
One of the key points discussed was the unsightly slick on Dungloe bay.
Cllr Enda Bonner told Donegal Daily that Irish Water say that the treatment facility is in full working order and that the slick on Dungloe bay is not their fault; nor their responsibility.
He says that it is Irish Water’s belief that the slick has nothing to do with the Wastewater Treatment Plant in Meenmore.
Cllr Bonner shares Irish Water’s belief that a third-party has been directly polluting the bay.
“It appears there is nothing wrong with the treatment plant and that somebody else is discharging sewage into the bay,” Cllr Bonner said.
“In my opinion there is stuff being dumped on the left hand side of the bay.”
Cllr Bonner explained that the recent slick is unusual, as the sludge used to be discharged on the right hand side of the bay near the pier, but the slick is concentrated on the left hand side; something that has never been seen before.
“It is a serious problem, after the establishment of the wastewater treatment plant the bay should be clearing up.
“We need the County Council to investigate the matter to see where it came from and what the cause is.”
Irish Water told Cllr Bonner that the only issue they have had with the Dungloe facility is the effluent seepage two weeks ago which saw effluent overflowing from the treatment plant.
Irish Water and Cllr Bonner believe that the effluent seepage is not connected with the slick on Dungloe bay.
Irish Water explained to Donegal Daily that this was caused by a faulty automated inlet valve which did not fully close, and that the pollution was confined to the site.
“Irish Water can confirm that the pollution was contained within the confines of the waste water treatment plant site. There was no impact to the surrounding environment as a result of this incident which happened following a period of heavy rainfall which led to more diluted than normal incoming wastewater. The receiving area surrounding the wastewater treatment plant is bog and marsh with no immediate drain or river flowing in to a water source.”
Irish Water is to issue a report on the effluent leakage in the coming weeks.
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