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AN ENTIRE TOWN’s sewage is being piped into a Special Area of Conservation in Galway and may be creating a serious health hazard for locals, an investigation by An Taisce has revealed.
Today the organisation said that it had received a tip-off about the issue and its report details the “unacceptable health and environmental hazard” it has created.
The sewage from Glenamaddy, which has a population of about 700 people, is being piped into Glenamaddy turlough, a type of disappearing lake, just to the east of the town. There it enters a swallow hole which drains the turlough, before re-emerging at Lettera spring some 3.5 km to the west of the town, according to tracer dye studies.
Primitive
An Taisce described the current sewage unit as “primitive” as it has been in place since the 1950s. “It has been a subject of internal discussions within various public authorities for the best part of at least 20 years, yet the hazard continues to this day,” they said.
Galway County Council itself described the unit as “grossly undersized” in an application to the Environmental Protection Agency in 2009 for a licence to regularise the unauthorised discharge in Glenamaddy, warning that it “may currently be significantly impacting on the [Glenamaddy] Turlough and the ground water in the region”.
However, five years on, the situation remains the same and the EPA has yet to take a decision on the council’s application. An Taisce said this presents a “potentially serious threat to drinking and bathing water in the Glenamaddy region” and is also believed to be adversely impacting on the turlough.
Investigation
Turloughs are one of only sixteen so-called “priority habitats” in Ireland. They are almost unique to Ireland and are one of the most strictly protected natural areas.
An Taisce said internal documents reveal that a member of the public complained to the EPA about the sewage in 2012 and Galway County Council carried out a site visit to the turlough, reporting back to the EPA that they could find no sign of the complained of discharge.
“Yet the primitive sewage unit was only a few metres from where the Council looked and carries prominent Galway County Council signage”, the organisation said today. ” Moreover it is the subject of regular maintenance work by the council and had been the subject of a licence application by the Council to the EPA itself some three years earlier.”
Policy Director at An Taisce, James Nix said several public bodies “have a lot to answer for”.
“There is a very urgent need for this issue to finally be taken seriously and addressed,” he said. “The people of Galway deserve much better than this. Their health and their environment must be safeguarded immediately – this illegal situation cannot go on.”
A formal request for action has now been launched with the EPA.
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It’s great when the papers advertise all the tips and tricks.
All beside their family I hope….
@darrell fahy: families I mean
@darrell fahy: with large gardens!
Can we please get back to the topic of free housing?
I am sick to my back teeth of talking about women from the waist down, Maurice McCabe and Magdalena Laundries….
Give me some David Drumm and the effects of the outcome of his case on the Quinn family.
Spice it up please Journal…..!!!!
@Gareth Cooney: And do you not think that people that suffered abuse and many had to run of the this country for the own protection from the state, police and church is not news worthy? What free house, I like many am on a housing list for 9 years with a special needs child no way of working as I am a full time carer and no way of ever getting a loan or a mortgage, I pay €84 per week to the council towards my rent on the RAS scheme but my term with my landlord is up next February and I could find myself on the street. http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/housing/local_authority_and_social_housing/rental_accommodation_scheme.html
And I would agree about David Drumm and the Quinns, I even believe they are trying to start up their business again in phase 2 of the Celtic tiger.
@Charliegrl80:
The rent paid on a RAS scheme is 10% of your income….. How are you paying €84 per week?
@joeyhem: my son and myself are on the rent
@Charliegrl80: I don’t believe you spotted any satire or sarcasm in my comment.
However, I sympathise with your circumstances and encourage you to continue to play as best you can the hand that life dealt you.
@Gareth Cooney: I did get the sarcasm but I felt it as a person that struggles daily.
We will not get a surge in accommodation building enrollment the PRTB is disbanded and bedsits are available again. The more likely development is the building of hundreds of Ballymun Towers Eastern Europe state housing.
@Tom Molloy: You have that already….Irish people having to move out of housing estates as they have been over run by foreign migrants who do’int give a dam, its just some where to stay, zero integration, while the whole area turns into a kip.
@BananaRepublic1922: and where are they moving to?
Loss of tenancy in the private rental sector or relationship breakdown may be contributing factors to people needing a home but homelessness is caused by the lack of adequate social housing. Demand outstrips supply and the government expect the private sector to fix it, instead of properly addressing the issue themselves.
This is not rocket science. The majority that exit homelessness within the 12 months don’t get social housing, makes complete sense. Why is this even news? Other than to stir things up against homeless people?
You can work hard in this country and not be able to afford a house , fact .social
Inclusion. Or stop all social inclusion including farmers
@Gerry Glynn: What does working hard have to do with it? I could work a 85 hour work week in McDonald’s flipping burgers. I don’t expect to be able to afford a home on that wage in Dublin nor should I.
@Leroy: what’s your question
As someone who is currently at risk of homelessness it is beyond ridiculous. My rental accommodation went up for sale 6 months ago & I have been searching for another property ever since to no avail. I now have 16 days to vacate as it has been sold with no where to go with my 2 children, nothing is being done to help people in my situation. I have been told by numerous people, ie local reps & council, that “we cannot help you, come back when your homeless”. There is no properties to rent & the ones available I contacted over the 6 months, I either didn’t get a call back to even view the property or told “more suitable tenants” got the rental, what is so wrong with renting a house to a responsible single lady & 2 children. I have worked for many years and paid my taxes like everyone else & I would never push for a council house but it’s crazy to ask for help or advice when your in this situation,but be told, “come back to us when your homeless”..
@Lisa Gordon: Hi Lisa, I’m sorry to hear your situation, you should touch base with some of the homeless organizations depending on what side of the country you are in thay can give you advice on what to do. I had been in a similar situation 13 weeks ago but i know you are under alot of pressure with the two kids. Stay strong and it will work out
@Homeless Express: thank you. I contacted our local focus ireland and got some help & information. It really comes down to lack of properties on the rental market. There are so many vacant houses here in my locality either abandoned or mostly up for sale. Finally got another viewing on a house which is 15/20 minutes drive from where I currently live in a small just outside of Sligo town but fingers crossed I get it. Unfortunately it is in a locality I’m not familiar with, no family or friends or a car to visit anyone or get the kiddies to school and no bus services in the area but as you said the only thing is to stay strong & work hard to secure something.. anything. And everything else can be worked on from there. It’s great to receive a positive comment from someone who has been through before. Sincerest thanks.
@Lisa Gordon: Anytime all the best you’re doing great it’s just another chapter in life and you will be proud of looking back in years to come. My advice is take anything you can for now and work out the logistics later. All the best
Stupid people spend whole life working hard to pay mortgages and homeless getting it for free. Great idea for getting free home and doing nothing.
@Paddy Power: give up work and go and live on the street then if you think it’s a better option.
@Robin Pickering: except families are not on the street are they ..
@Siobhán Ni Mhurchú: Main streets no, under bushes at night, pushed out of sight, so as not to hurt the eyes of the onlookers. Homeless was bad enough but hiding as well as homeless away from opinions and judgment. Free homes me arse, I’m homeless and not looking for a house because there is plenty that needs it more than me. Do me a favour. if you have such a strong opinion of the homeless go and spend a day volunteering I bet you change your mind.
@Gareth Cooney: Ouch! Waiting for the onslaught! And you have a point tbh.
@Margate: indeed but I think I might have recovered slightly with my response to the big one.
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Source: An Taisce" title="">
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