The Western Regional Fisheries Board chief executive has called for the vital replacement of outdated sewage plants across the region. His comments came following the board’s successful prosecution of Galway County Council for ongoing and persistant water pollution problems at Clonbur sewage treatment works.
The case, which was brought against the County Council recently at Clifden District Court, resulted from data collected during monitoring activities by the Western Regional Fisheries Board. From the collected findings the board was able to detect that pollution was coming from discharges from the Clonbur sewage treatment works. The discharges caused pollution to watercourses flowing into the Clonbur River and Lough Mask on August 8, 2008.
The court heard that over a number of years the effluent from the treatment plant in Clonbur had been a major problem. However in February of this year, the County Council commenced work on the construction of a new sewage treatment plant at Clonbur and this plant, which has a capacity of 710 population equivalent, is now operational.
After hearing the evidence, Judge Mary Fahy convicted and fined Galway County Council €500 for breaches of the Fisheries Acts, with monitoring costs of €650, and the Fisheries Board’s legal costs of €627 also awarded.
Speaking after the case, WRFB chief executive officer Dr Greg Forde said, “There had been ongoing problems with the sewage plant in Clonbur over many years which had resulted in the tributary river to Lough Mask having an unacceptable level of pollution. The Board had no alternative but to prosecute the Council in relation to the ongoing persistent problems”.
Mr Forde added that the board was relieved to see that the new plant has been constructed and that it was a major improvement on the old plant which had been completely outdated and overcapacity. He said that the board will be continually monitoring the new plant’s performance over the coming months. Mr Forde also noted that it was vital that other outdated plants in the region be replaced as soon as possible.
