“LIES, lies, and more lies!”
That was the reaction of former Mayor Kevin Sheahan to a recent statement from Irish Water in relation to the treatment of raw sewage in Askeaton.
Responding to claims from the Fianna Fáil politician, the water utility company stated last month that there was no discharge of untreated sewage into the River Deel.
“Irish Water has informed the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that the Imhoff tanks at Askeaton are currently in use and are providing primary treatment of the wastewater entering the site,” a spokesperson explained at the time.
Irish Water also said that the tanks are de-sludged approximately every six weeks as part of an ongoing maintenance programme in County Limerick where the biosolid material is removed from the bottom of the tanks during the desludging process.
“The plant is maintained and operated on an ongoing basis.”
However, at this Tuesday’s Adare-Rathkeale Municipal District meeting, Cllr Sheahan told council members that he was “flabbergasted” by their statement.
“Not only are they making me out to be a liar, but they are making the community of Askeaton out to be liars too,” he said.
“You cannot silence me any longer. It’s an absolute disgrace what is happening in Askeaton. We don’t have a sewerage system to upgrade what we have is a holding tank like the kind farmers use for storing slurry.
When the tide comes in twice a day, solids can be seen floating down the River Deel. Lies are being told by the stakeholders. This is an important issue for me and the people of Askeaton and what is needed is a modern state-of-the-art sewerage treatment plant.”
Independent councillor Emmett O’Brien supported Cllr Sheahan and said what was happening on the River Deel was “appalling and unacceptable”.
“It baffles me why this can’t be prioritised,” he added.
Sinn Fein councillor Ciara McMahon also offered her full support and said it a “disgrace that people were treated with such disregard”.
by Alan Jacques
