There is a strong chance that the river in Clonaslee will become polluted with human waste if action is not taken, a county Councillor has warned.
Cllr Seamus McDonald has called on Laois County Council to seek funding to extend sewage at Brittas in Clonaslee.
However, county engineer Paul McLoughlin says that this is a matter for Irish Water.
He said: “This is a matter for Irish Water to consider and it has been referred to them. But initial feedback would suggest that this area is unlikely to be a priority consideration by them for sewer mains extension.
“During the recent Laois 6 Towns Sewage Netword upgrade – foul sewer mains were typically not extended beyond the urban development boundary and Brittas in Clonaslee was outside that boundary.”
However, Mr McDonald was not satisfied with this response and he called on the Laois County Council to put pressure on Irish Water to do something over what he considers could become ‘a serious health issue’.
He said: “I’m not happy with that reply. There are 12 houses in that area that are deemed outside of the boundary.
“The River Clodaigh is just across the way and it supplies water to the whole town of Tullamore so I would be terrified that the river will become polluted from raw septic tanks which are overflowing.
“Maybe we should contact Irish Water and make a strong case because it is a serious issue and it could become a serious health issue if something is not done.
“The owners of these houses want to be part of this scheme and some of them are even willing to put their own money into getting connected.”
Director of Services for Laois County Council, Donal Brennan, informed the meeting that he would be meeting Irish Water personnel later that day where he would raise the issue.
He said: “I will certainly raise it with them but I would fear that the answer I will get, will be the same as the answer we already have.
“I would be aware that they have their own list of priorities. I wouldn’t be overly hopeful but you never know.”
