Uisce Éireann 'regrets' Ballinagh River pollution

Conviction handed down at Cavan District Court earlier this month.

Uisce Éireann says it "regrets" polluting the Ballinagh River, an incident in which 160 fish died, and states that it has implemented "a number of measures" to prevent this from reoccurring.

On 19 July 2022, Uisce Éireann was made aware of a discharge from an outfall pipe at Ballinagh Wastewater Treatment Plant into the Ballinagh River.

In a statement to The Anglo-Celt they say they "immediately cooperated with Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) who investigated the matter. The incident impacted a number of fish in the river including brown trout, minnow and stickleback."

The spokesperson added that Uisce Éireann "regrets the incident and has implemented a number of measures to prevent this incident reoccurring. It is acknowledged that long term investment in the Ballinagh agglomeration is required and, to that end, the Ballinagh Plant is being advanced under the Uisce Éireann Small Towns and Villages Growth Programme."

The utilities body concluded by accepting that it is "responsible for delivering public drinking water and wastewater services for the people of Ireland. We are committed to enabling communities to thrive by continuously upgrading and developing critical infrastructure to support sustainable growth and development, providing safe drinking water, and enhancing the environment."

At Cavan District Court earlier this month, Inland Fisheries Ireland secured a prosecution against Uisce Éireann for the pollution, the third regarding the plant in Ballinagh since 2015.

Sample results taken from the water near the Uisce Éireann wastewater treatment plant on July 19, 2022, showed high levels of ammonia – 32 times greater than expected in good salmon or trout waters.

A fine of €4,000, plus costs and expenses of €3079, was imposed at a hearing on the matter at Cavan District Court on October 6.

READ MORE: Uisce Éireann fined for third Ballinagh fish kill since 2015