Uisce Éireann asked to provide clarity on issues with bad smells in Wicklow

By Hugh O'Farrell Walsh, The Wicklow People

Officials from Uisce Éireann have been asked to appear before a meeting of Wicklow County Council to clarify the cause of persistent foul odours affecting communities across Wicklow.

During the council’s September monthly meeting, councillors asked for information on the nature of the issue and when residents can expect a resolution.

Cllr Paul O’Brien said it has become a major issue for residents on the Murrough with the odour that emanating from the pump house.

“We're after having a fantastic summer yet the residents of Urban Villas and the surrounding areas couldn't even bring visitors down to visit the order our was that bad. They had to keep their windows shut and it has got to a stage now where they are just getting very, very frustrated.”

Cllr Stephen Stokes agreed with those sentiments and called on the utility to provide more clarity.

We have foul smells from the wastewater treatment plan in Greystones for several days and we never got detailed information about what the issues were. So could I propose that we invite Uisce Éireann to a future meeting to discuss these issues and also get an oversight about their operations.”

“I am sure some of their work is very positive, so it would be good to get an oversight on that.” he added.

His district colleague Cllr Lourda Scott also highlighted the importance of testing the bathing waters after an overflow incident during the winter months.

“At the moment testing is only carried out during the bathing season. I am raising it again in relation to pertinent issues with odours and obviously we're coming into the winter season and coming out of the bathing season again.

“If that could be considered or looked at in case we have similar incidents this winter.” she added.

In response council engineer Mary Cahill said this is one of the issues that is kind of be careful what you wish for.

“We do have a system in place that if there is an overflow like there was in Greystones last year that we would put a prohibition notice up. It's again in consultation with the HSE after a few tidal changes, we would be informed that it would be cleared. We wouldn't be testing. We just don't have the resources.”

“In relation to the odours from the wastewater treatment plants, I don't have details of the recent issue in Greystones or over the summer from the Murrough pumping station, but I just want to say that for several years during the transition over to Uisce Éireann we were receiving operational reports.”

“We no longer receive those reports, so we also feel like we are being kept in the dark.” she added.

Concluding the discussion, chief executive Emer O’Gorman expressed the need for the public body to provide answers.

“I welcome the suggestion from Cllr Stokes that we write to Uisce Éireann, and we request a meeting with them to come and present to us. We will ask. They may or may not come.”

“I do think the level of response to the Elected Members about these issues is not satisfactory.” she added.