Foul odours 'gravely impacting' 150 households in south Mayo

THE plight of 150 households in Claremorris who are being affected by foul odours was raised in the Dáil this morning.

The issue has been ongoing for 16 years.

Deputy Michael Ring said the situation at the Knock Road in Claremorris is a very serious health and safety issue and is gravely impacting on the lives of the people in this area.

He commented: “This problem has been ongoing for 16 years. It is affecting 150 households in this area. It is outrageous that these people, who pay all their dues, are being left without a resolution to this problem.

“The foul odour and gases is everywhere and they cannot even open a window in their houses.”

Deputy Ring continued: “Mayo County Council, to date, have not resolved this problem. Irish Water were on site a number of weeks ago. They carried out some works but a week later the problem returned.

“The people affected by this issue are suffering on a daily basis. It is impacting hugely on their quality of life. They have pleaded with the council and Irish Water over the years to help them but it has fallen on deaf ears.”

A new sewerage system was put in many years ago, he explained, and 'there is no doubt that there is a fault somewhere along the line'.

“Something has gone very wrong with it,” he stated.

He continued: “I asked Minister of State Malcolm Noonan to arrange a meeting with the CEO of Irish Water, officials from the department and myself in relation to this issue.

“Irish Water need to help on this occasion. It is their duty. At a recent meeting of Mayo County Council, it was stated that they have been trying to get representatives of Irish Water in for the past number of months to discuss other issues and they have not come in.

“Irish Water have to step up and find a solution to this problem.”

Minister Noonan, in the Dáil, said Mayo County Council is responsible for investigating and dealing with complaints of poor air quality, including odours. If the issue involves an Environmental Protection Agency-regulated site, the local authority will pass the complaint to the agency for a response.

He commented: “I understand from inquiries that have been made with Uisce Éireann that the company and the local authority water services area staff are investigating sewers as one potential source but have not identified any specific source of the odour issue. Pumping stations in the area are operating normally and there is no evidence of blockages in the sewer system.

“Uisce Éireann source control has advised that there are no business or commercial discharges on this section of network. Further investigations are to be undertaken for any potential unlicensed discharges in this area.

“This area of the sewer network is included in the odour control programme and Uisce Éireann is currently gathering and processing data for the next stage of the assessment. Options for remedial action will be developed once this assessment has been completed.

“If the matter is indeed related to the public sewers, that is the sole responsibility of Uisce Éireann. Private sewers are a matter for the individual owners to address.”

Hopefully, the matter will be resolved in a timely manner, he added.

Deputy Ring reiterated to Minister Noonan that this problem has not been created by the people in this area. The houses do not have septic tanks.

“There is a very serious problem here and I calling on this matter to be resolved immediately.”

Uisce Eireann and Water Services Area staff have been investigating this complaint and have not identified any source of the odour issue at this point.

A statement issued by the agency outlined: "The pumping stations are operating as normal and manholes appear to be running clear with no blockages evident.

"Further investigations are to be undertaken for any potential unlicensed discharges in this area.

"This area of the network is included in the Odour Control Programme and Uisce Éireann is currently gathering and processing data for the next stage of the project.

"Options for remedial action will be developed once this assessment has been completed."