River pollution claims to be investigated

THE Shannon Regional Fisheries Board is to investigate claims made by a windfarm company that both Clare County Council’s wastewater treatment facilities and farmers are inadvertently polluting the Doonbeg River.
A local lobby group has raised concerns that farmers could be subjected to heavy fines and the loss of direct payments, such as the Rural Environmental Protection Scheme (REPS), if the allegations are verified by the investigation.
A Shannon Regional Fisheries Board spokesman confirmed the authority would be investigating the alleged pollution of the Doonbeg River, which has been brought to its attention by Clare Coastal Wind Power Limited, in response to a further information request from An Bord Pleanála.
Regardless of what pollution may be occurring in the Doonbeg River, the spokesman stressed the company would have to ensure its development complied with all regulations.

The company has lodged a planning application to An Bord Pleanála to develop a €100 million, 45-turbine windfarm with a hub height of 85m and a rotor diameter of 82m at Carrowmore South, Einagh, Monmore North, Doonbeg, Shragh, Mountrivers and Drumillihy.
A spokesman for Clare Coastal Wind Power declined to comment on reactions to its claim.
In addition to reducing the number of turbines by five, from 50 to 45, Jennings O’Donovan and Partners Consulting Engineers outlined a number of “possible contaminants” to the Doonbeg River in the further information provided.
It stated there are numerous land drains discharged to the river, including those in existence from the Shragh and Mountrivers peat areas and noted possible contaminants include suspended solids, phosphates, ammonia and nitrates.
In its revised drainage plan, the consultants stated there are “numerous agricultural outfall pipes, including one milking parlour discharging to the Doonbeg River and possible contaminants include suspended solids, biological oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), phosphates, ammonia and nitrates”.
“The Kilmihil Wastewater Treatment Plant discharges to a tributary of the Doonbeg River. The works consist of a preliminary unit made up of a bar screen and storm water overflow, together with an Imhoff tank, percolating filter, drying beds and humus tank. Possible contaminants include suspended solids, BOD and COD.
“The village of Cooraclare is served by a holding tank and outflow pipe to the Doonbeg River. Possible contaminants include suspended solids, BOD and COD.
“There are numerous domestic septic tank outlet pipes discharging to the Doonbeg River. Possible contaminants include suspended solids, BOD and COD,” they stated.
The Rural Protection Group, which is opposing the construction of the windfarm, stated it viewed the allegations made by Clare Coastal Wind Power as very serious for Clare County Council and all householders and farmers in proximity to the Doonbeg River.
“These allegations could result in all households and farms being inspected in the coming weeks. The allegations made against the farmers are very specific and if found to be true, could result in very heavy fines and even the loss of farm grants and REPS payments.
“However we are surprised by the allegations considering that there is a very large population of fresh water pearl mussel in the Doonbeg River and they require clean water to survive so we expect that the developer has some explaining to do,” the group stated.
Local IFA spokesman, Willie Hanrahan said he would be surprised if there is any major pollution of the Doonbeg River by agricultural activities, considering the water quality in the river is excellent.
Mr Hanrahan pointed out the dairy, beef and suckler farmers in the locality are inspected on an ongoing basis to determine whether they are inadvertently polluting the river and acknowledged their Single Farm Payment would be cut if they were guilty of pollution.
He said a local group spent about €13,000 last year to help the spawning of salmon in the river and noted it is very difficult, if not impossible, to control the water run-off from peat land.
Senior engineer, Sean Ward said Clare County Council is not surprised that the EIS looks at existing drainage loads to the Doonbeg River – a thorough EIS must consider all existing impacts, as well as possible impacts from the development being proposed.
He acknowledged the Doonbeg River is joined some miles upstream by a tributary, which receives the treated effluent from the council’s Kilmihil Wastewater Treatment Plant and there are several septic tanks, surface water drains and farms within the catchment of the river.
Cooraclare has no wastewater treatment plant. Individual premises are served by their own septic tanks, including a communal septic tank maintained by the council, which serves six houses built by the council.
In the 2006-2009 Water Services Investment Plan, the council designed a sewerage network and treatment plant for the village, which would have been approximately 70% funded by the Government but it was omitted from the 2010-2013 WSIP and not built.
He added there are no current proposals to upgrade the Kilmihil Wastewater Treatment Plant.