Whitegate stink up for discussion

THE “overwhelming” foul smell from sewage allegedly leaking from a “holding area” of the Whitegate Wastewater Treatment Plant into the back garden of a local resident, will be discussed by councillors at a Clare County Council meeting.

Adrian Hynes, Gweeneeny, Whitegate, has confirmed he still isn’t aware of any action taken by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to address this issue, despite sending the agency a written complaint over two years ago.
However, Clare County Council has refuted the claim that it was responsible for the discharge or the smell.
A spokesperson for Clare County Council commented, “The overflow drain within the site is not lined but is sealed by nature of the heavy clay into which it is cut. The council dye tested this drain in 2010 and this confirmed that there was no pathway from the site into the drain on Mr Hynes property.”
Councillor Pat Burke has pledged to raise this issue at the next Killaloe Electoral Area meeting in September.
“I am aware of this issue and I sympathise with Adrian Hynes and his family in relation to the problems they are having. I intend raising this issue at the next Killaloe Electoral Area meeting in September,” he said.
Clare County Council received a Certificate of Authorisation from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on May 16 last following its initial application on December 22, 2009.
Provisions for monitoring emissions from the Whitegate wastewater treatment plant are in place, according to documents provided by the council to the EPA.
The council stated in its official submission, a full-time laboratory technician is employed to cater for the operational requirements in terms of monitoring at the treatment plant.
Monitoring of influent and effluent wastewater streams is undertaken monthly for the parameters biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD) and suspended solids (SS).
A screening process was undertaken to determine the potential impact, if any, of the discharge from the plant on the Lough Derg designated sites.
The council has stated that no impact linked to the discharge from the treatment plant is observed or considered likely on the species-qualifying interest associated with the designated site taking account of the effluent quality and the high status of the receiving waters in the vicinity of the discharge.
Adrian Hynes, Gweeneeny, Whitegate claimed in a submission to the EPA on April 15, 2010, that the sewage from the holding area in the plant is leaking sewage into the drain running beside his garden.
“This holding area in question is nothing more than a hole in the ground, dug a number of years ago and is not lined at all.
“I can see this by walking to the edge of my land and looking straight into the sewage plant. This holding area is about 15m from my garden and the smell during dry spells can be overwhelming.
“Approximately, once a year, the council clean out the contents of the holding area with a JCB and they leave the contents on the side of the bank within the sewage treatment plant,” he stated.
Mr Hynes said he recently discovered the council had applied to the EPA for a Wastewater Discharge Licence but to date, there was no notice displayed indicating this planning application, which he believed was “illegal”.
“Clare County Council has dismissed my complaint on a number of occasions. I hope this objection will see Clare County Council sort out the holding area and treatment plant once and for all,” he stated.
EPA Inspector, Yvonne English explained in her inspector’s report on the Whitegate Wastewater Certificate that national regulations cover the discharge of waste water from a wastewater works but don’t regulate the wastewater treatment plant itself.
Ms English also confirmed in her report dated May 19, 2011 that Mr Hynes’ concern regarding odour issues and the cleaning of the holding tank had been sent to the Office of Environmental Enforcement Waste Water Team for appropriate further action.
She pointed out there was no requirement for the council to erect a site notice for an application for a Certificate of Authorisation.
An EPA spokeswoman noted the authority acknowledged Mr Hynes’ complaint and also wrote to him on July 16, 2011 to advise him of the EPA’s decision on the application.
She explained his submission was taken into account during the EPA’s assessment of the application, while the Inspector’s report outlines various conditions in the Certificate of Authorisation that address issues raised in the submission.
These include requirements to operate the wastewater works in accordance with best practice to ensure wastewater discharges do not cause environmental pollution; maintain available capacity in the wastewater works to ensure that there is no environmental risk posed to receiving waters; ensure that discharges do not result in environmental pollution and identify any appropriate improvements necessary within the sewerage system.