Sewerage, sanitary products and thick black waste are destroying one of the major rivers in the country and urgent action must be taken to prevent further environmental pollution.
Aontú Cllr for Navan, Emer Tóibín says she was both disgusted and sickened to see the thick slimy effluent clogging up the River Boyneh when she visited the Blackcastle Wastewater Treatment Plant this week.
She says
“I was truly shocked by what I saw. I visited the site on foot of a request by a constituent who is really exercised about this situation, given the huge environmental consequences. I have made several representations to Uisce Éireann (UÉ) over the past number of weeks regarding video evidence of sewage and waste being discharged into the river”.
“Uisce Éireann has confirmed that the wastewater pumping station at Blackcastle is operating within its design capacity; however, it has acknowledged that the stormwater overflow screen at the station is currently offline. An incident report has been filed with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under Reference: INCI 029210”.
“The fact that this stormwater overflow screen is not functioning raises serious concerns about what is being discharged into the Boyne. According to experts, stormwater and wastewater should not be combined, as this can more easily lead to the system becoming overwhelmed during heavy rainfall, causing untreated waste to flow directly into our waterways. This poses a serious risk to public health, aquatic life, and the overall environmental integrity of the River Boyne.”
“Uisce Éireann has stated that the station is equipped with an alarm system to notify field staff when stormwater overflow is activated, and updates will be provided to the EPA until the incident is resolved. However, I’m calling for stronger oversight and immediate repairs”.
“We need a proper commitment from Uisce Éireann on when this system will be fully operational again and whether they will take steps to prevent stormwater and wastewater from combining in the first place. The people of Navan deserve better, and the River Boyne must be protected. It is one of the most beautiful rivers in the country, and has the added importance of huge historical significance ”.
“We in Aontú are calling for an independent water quality test at the affected site to determine the true impact of the discharge and ensure accountability from those responsible”.
