This article is from page 3 of the 2012-02-21 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 3 JPG
SIX of Clare’s fifteen wastewater treatment do not meet the standards as set out by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Treatment centres at Quin, Ennis South, Lahinch, Ennistymon, Tulla and Shannon town each failed waste water treatment standards according to the latest figures released to The Clare People by the EPA.
Test carried out at treatment centres in Quin and Shannon showed a particularly high instances Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) – which is one of the key indicators of pollution being present in the treated water.
Of the 10 tests carried out in Quin, eight showed a BOD level above the dangerous level of 25mg per litre with four of these having a BOD level higher than 50mg per litre.
Of the 13 tests carried out in Shannon town, 10 were shown to have a BOD level above 25mg per litre with six recording levels above 50mg per litre.
Responding to the findings the EPA’s programme manager in the Office of Environmental Enforcement, Gerald O’Leary, described the result “poor”.
“This level of performance is poor and needs to improve.
“In order to meet EU targets, further investment in infrastructure is required and we need a step change in the operation and maintenance of these valuable assets.”
The report measures the effectiveness of Clare treatment plants and does not draw conclusion as to how this performance might effect the quality of Clare’s drinking water.
The results are the latest to be made public by the EPA and relate to the 12 months of 2009.
These figures are released on a staggered basis by the environmental organisation so changes in the effectiveness of the facilities mentioned may have taken place during that time.
Commenting on the report, Dara Lynott, EPA’s Director of the Office of Environmental Enforcement, said that a large amount of government money will be required to resolve the situation.
“Meeting our EU targets will require substantial and sustained investment.
“However, the benefits of such investment extend beyond water quality, as clean water is a pre-requisite for our tourism, food, agriculture and manufacturing industries,” he said. The Clare People contacted Clare County Council in relation to this story but no response was received at the time of going to press.