‘Sneem river report was an algae bloom’ - IFI

IRISH Water has said it will continue to work with Kerry County Council and the EPA following a report of suspected sewage contamination of the River Sneem – but it is satisfied there have been no unauthorised discharges from the Sneem Wastewater Treatment Plant north of the scene.

Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) said what was sighted this week was an ‘algae bloom’, an naturally-occurring issue previously seen in the area in which a film of dry algae comes in with the tide during still, warm weather.

The IFI said it is satisfied that no pollution took place and have now left the matter with other bodies.

The Investigations come on foot of reports of suspected sewage in the river in recent days. Richard Tindale said he noticed what he suspected to be sewage floating on the surface of the River Sneem between Sneem village and Kenmare Bay at around midday on Wednesday (November 1) at high-tide.

“I took some photographs of what I saw and I later put them on Facebook,” Mr Tindale told The Kerryman. “Representatives from the EPA, Irish Water and Kerry County Council were in the area thereafter as part of their examination of the scene. There’s nothing to be seen there at the moment, but the weather conditions have changed. On Tuesday, when I spotted this, the weather was calmer and the river was still, so you could see more.”

Mr Tindale added that while mullet and occasionally salmon can be found in the area in question, the location is not known to be particularly rich in fish. Irish Water said it continues to monitor the situation with the EPA, Kerry County Council and other relevant bodies.

A spokesperson for Irish Water added it will “ensure that the plant continues to operate normally and complies with all the relevant regulations for the discharge of wastewater.

“Regular sampling takes place at the outfall from the [Sneem Wastewater Treatment] plant. All monitoring results to date this year have been fully compliant with regulations for the discharge of wastewater.”

The scene photographed by Richard Tindale last week.