IFI successful in Cavan sewage pollution case
Uisce Éireann has been fined and has committed to contribute €12k to habitat improvement plan after sewage was discharged into an important wild brown trout spawning river in Cavan.
Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) secured the conviction after untreated sewage effluent from Uisce Éireann’s sewer network entered into the Pound River, a tributary of the Mountnugent River, which flows into Lough Sheelin.
IFI said it took samples after the May 2024 incident and detected a level of ammonia in the water that was toxic to fish, insects, and other aquatic life.
David McInerney, IFI’s Director in the Shannon region, said the pollution event had “very serious effects.”
“The high level of ammonia in the water would have almost certainly killed the newly-hatched fish fry, which would have been only 2-3cm long at the time,” he added. “It caused a significant deterioration to the river’s water quality downstream, which was visually evident for 1300m as far as its confluence with the Mountnugent River.”
“Uisce Éireann’s contribution of €12,000 to future habitat improvement works is most welcome and reflects its commitment to improving the river habitat,” concluded Mr. McInerney.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, IFI said Uisce Éireann was found to have committed a water pollution breach, and must pay a fine of €3,000, as well as IFI’s costs and expenses of €6,158 for the case.
The utility company also agreed to contribute €12,000 to a future habitat improvement plan which will remediate the Pound River for 1.3km downstream of the discharge location and help restore trout stocks.
IFI invested €20,000 in 2024 on improving the river’s habitat upstream of the discharge location.
Meanwhile, IFI is urging the public to report instances of water pollution, habitat destruction, fish kills, or illegal fishing, to its confidential 24/7 number, 0818 34 74 24.
