Wastewater hearing begins in west Ireland

A controversial wastewater plant would pollute the waters of Clew Bay and impact the lives of local shellfish farmers, a hearing has been told.


The oral hearing was conducted by An Bord Pleanala under the chairmanship of inspector Daniel O’Connor, the Connaught Telegraph reported.

It was set to investigate a proposal by Mayo County Council to install a suggested sludge hub centre, as well as a temporary sludge drier and leachate – a toxic liquid produced when water filters through landfill waste – treatment facility at Derrinumera landfill site near Newport.

If it is approved, the centre would treat the residual semi-solid material left from water treatment or wastewater treatment processes from sewage works around the county.

However, the paper reported that local residents have expressed concerns about the potential pollution of nearby rivers and lakes.

In the past, the wastewater materials were removed by licensed contractors and used on agricultural land in Meath.

However, Mayo County Council has said that a treatment facility is now needed for the area.

The hearing continues.

James Cooper

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