Solution to Lough Talt could be up to ten years away meeting is told
The health of 10,000 Lough Talt water customers is more important than a snail.
That’s according to Cllr Margaret Gormley who raised the issue of the snail in Lough Talt which led to An Bord Pleanala refusing Irish Water permission to upgrade their water treatment plant.
“A snail is more important than the health of the 10,000 people who use the water supply. Irish Water is trying to provide safe water, it’s something that people deserve,” she said.
Her concerns were shared by Cllr Chris MacManus: “She’s right. It’s a farcical situation. We could be fined for having substandard drinking water. It could take Irish Water up to ten years to find alternatives.”
“20 per cent of the population of this county are affected by this decision. Public health should not be trumped by a snail. Our citizens should come first,” he said.
Cllr Paul Taylor agreed, saying it was “laughable that a species of snail could stop something that is a health issue for people.”
Cllr Dara Mulvey said he had been in contact with MEP Mairead McGuinness and was also waiting on a reply from Minister Simon Coveney.
Director of Services Tom Kilfeather said the decision of an Bord Pleanala came “as no surprise to anyone.”
“This is what Irish Water is paid for now, to come up with a solution.
“There are options there but they’re 7- 10 years away,” he told the meeting.
“We don’t know what that solution is. We met with Irish Water last Friday and they don’t know what the solution is either,” he added.
Cathaoirleach of the County Council Cllr Hubert Keaney then urged the public to attend two upcoming public meetings on our waters and have their say on how they should be managed.
Sligo County Council is trying to get the public more involved in the Government’s draft River Basin Management Plan for Ireland 2018- 2021.
The plan aims to identify pressures on water quality at sea and inland and decide on what action to take to address them.
The first public meeting will take place in the Glasshouse Hotel this Thursday ( May 18th) at 7.30pm.
A second public meeting will take place in Cawleys Hotel, Tubbercurry the folllowing Thursday May 25th at 7.30pm.
Councillor Thomas Healy asked Environmental Scientist with the Council Enda Killoran if the Council itself would make a submission to the plan.
Mr Killoran replied that the Council would be making a submission, “probably in relation to resources we need to carry out this work, i. e. staffing levels.”
The environment expert said Zebra Mussels had been reported in Lough Gill and Lough Arrow but not in Lough Easkey or Lough Talt.
He and Council Chief Executive Ciarán Hayes appealed to boatowners to be vigilant about checking underneath their boats when moving from one lake to another.
“They filter algae but they are an alien species, they’re not native to Ireland and they shouldn’t be there,” said Mr Killoran.