Action demanded to address issues at popular Mayo lake
UISCE Éireann is being told to upgrade overflow tanks in Claremorris due to their impact on the popular Clare Lake amenity.
Local Councillor Tom Connolly, who wants a report to go to the EPA over issues at the lake, circulated photos of dead fish along the lake edge at a Claremorris-Swinford Municipal District meeting this week.
Councillors supported a call from the local Chamber of Commerce who have been lobbying Irish Water (Uisce Éireann) to upgrade overflow tanks.
Due to recent rainfall, the situation has dramatically deteriorated, they said in correspondence to elected members.
Councillor Connolly said Clare Lake and McMahon Park attracts thousands of people walking around it every year.
The lake, he stated, has been polluted by an overspill of sewerage.
Councillor Connolly called on the council and EPA to take action against Irish Water and 'stop this once and for all'.
A member of the lake/park committee, Councillor Richard Finn said there has been other incidents in relation to other seepages over the past number of months and years, with little done to follow them up. It wasn't all a sewerage situation.
If it was a farmer or private individual they would be put out of business or fined severely.
Councillors were receiving reports on this on an ongoing basis, who then get on to Irish Water, the council and environment section, but no one wants to know who is in charge.
It is one of the best parks in the country, Coucillor Finn added, and is not being treated the way it should be.
Councillor Damien Ryan asked that the environment section would send a report to the EPA.
“Identify the cause or causes and take action,” he said.
Members supported Councillor Connolly's call that the matter be reported to the EPA.
UPDATE: In a statement, Uisce Éireann said is carrying out investigations and putting plans in place to reduce overflows at Clare Lake in Claremorris.
"We are committed to safeguarding public health and protecting the environment in all our activities and we will continue to proactively liaise with Inland Fisheries Ireland and the Environmental Protection Agency in relation to all these matters," the stateent added.