Independent Clare MEP Michael McNamara has criticised Uisce Éireann following a public health advisory over significant blue-green algal blooms in Lough Derg.
“The situation raises serious questions about how the utility is managing the wastewater responsibilities transferred from local authorities,” he said.
This follows a public health advisory from Tipperary County Council warning people to avoid affected waters and a preliminary assessment from the River Shannon Environmental Protection Alliance (RSEPA) that estimates that just 12 Uisce Éireann wastewater treatment plants discharge approximately 174 tonnes of nitrogen every year into the River Shannon.
“Local authorities are now having to warn people to stay out of the water because of algal blooms, while Uisce Éireann continues to discharge nitrogen into that same catchment.
“Excess nutrients are a recognised contributor to excessive algal growth. So, while we need a proper investigation into every factor contributing to this bloom, Uisce Éireann cannot pretend that its wastewater discharges are not contributing.
“Uisce Éireann has assumed responsibility for wastewater management from local authorities on the basis that this would provide better management and stronger environmental protection, yet local authorities are now issuing public health warnings about the condition of the waters into which Uisce Éireann discharges.”
Mr McNamara commented: “Before Uisce Éireann embarks on a multi-billion euro vainglorious project and asks us to accept that its proposed Shannon pipeline will respect the environment, it needs to demonstrate that it can protect the environment with the responsibilities it already has.”