'Incident' at water treatment plant linked to fish kill in Limerick

AN “INCIDENT” at Castlemahon Water Treatment Plant is being linked to a fish kill on the River Deel.

Limerick Live understands aluminium sulphate -  a coagulating agent in the purification of drinking water - made its way into the river course on Thursday, August 29.

An Uisce Éireann spokesperson said they are carrying out investigations to determine the exact circumstances of an incident at Castlemahon Water Treatment Plant. 

“The relevant bodies have been notified and Uisce Éireann is co-operating fully with Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) in relation to the investigation.

“We would also like to assure the community there has been no impact on the quality of drinking water,” said an Uisce Éireann spokesperson. They didn’t respond to a Limerick Leader query regarding aluminium sulphate.

An Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) spokesperson said regarding the pollution event at the River Deel, the EPA and IFI are currently investigating the incident and the impact on the water treatment plant and the river.

“As part of the investigation, the EPA conducted a site inspection of the water treatment plant on August 30. 

“This inspection confirmed that the quality of the drinking water being supplied to consumers was not affected by the incident. IFI have inspected the river and are working with Uisce Eireann to address any impacts on the River Deel,” said the spokesperson.

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Local fisherman Joe Hurley described the fish kill as “shocking”.

“We don't know how many fish have been killed because it's been going on for hours and they float away down with it,” said Joe, who took a photo of five dead trout on the riverbank.

He said trout stocks are under pressure all the time and this could be their death knell.

“It could be for the Deel anyway judging by the way the stuff has come down here, and the way it turned them up on their bellies. It's going to be that way, all the way down to Askeaton,” said Joe. 

He thought it was milk in the river when he saw it first but says it wasn’t milk. He traced where the contaminant was coming from and said it was coming from a pipe. Joe said it is “very upsetting” as they do their best to mind the fish stocks and farmers are a great help and doing their best.

“The farmers get blamed for everything but they can’t be blamed for doing this. Every one of them has their own farmyard up to date and spotless - I can guarantee you that,” said Joe.