Sewage sludge a ‘disgusting sight’ in Limerick river

A THICK sludge of sewage that appeared on the surface of the River Deel and flowed through Askeaton in Limerick has been described as “disgraceful”.

For a number of years, raw sewage has been entering the River Deel from Askeaton and oftentimes has overflowed onto Main Street in Askeaton.

The sewage overflowed into the River Deel causing a “disgusting sight” for residents on August 28.

Independent Cllr for Adare/Rathkeale John O'Donoghue has said he has heard nothing back from the relevant government departments regarding the issue.

“They were sent pictures of the sludge so they could understand it and for them to tell us why this is happening and how in the name of God we’re going to solve it,” he said.

Cycle lane bollards in Limerick removed over health and safety fears

“I wouldn’t expect an answer overnight but by the same token, I would expect that if there was raw sewage flowing down the river near anyone, ministers would come back fairly lively to see if they could alleviate the situation.”

Cllr O’Donoghue brought the issue up at the monthly meeting of the Municipal District of Adare/Rathkeale after Fianna Fáil Cllr Kevin Sheahan raised a motion about springtime flooding in Askeaton as the two situations “are tied in within reason”.

“Nobody wants flooding of any sort,” Cllr O’Donoghue said. “But man alive, if there was flooding with this thing incorporated, it would be beyond all,” Cllr O’Donoghue said.

Cllr Kevin Sheahan said he witnessed the sludge of sewage floating on the River Deel outside Askeaton Pool and Leisure.

“I enjoyed that river when I was young and now children run the risk of polio, blindness and worse if they so much as go near it due to E Coli levels in the water,” Cllr Sheahan said.