Urgent action needed on ‘disgraceful’ 30-year sewage leak in West Cork village

Fri, 12 Dec, 2025 - 19:55

David Forsythe

A sewage leak that has been ongoing in a West Cork village for almost 30 years has been branded “a disgrace” at a recent meeting of Cork County Council’s West Cork municipal district.

The issue was raised in a motion by Independent Ireland councillor Daniel Sexton that said: “In light of the significant environmental and public health risks posed by the sewage leaks in Shannonvale, I am calling on this council to write to the Environmental Protection Agency to request that they use their full enforcement powers to compel Uisce Éireann to develop and implement an expedited action plan to end the sewage overflow and remediate the contamination of the park and the River Argideen.”

Mr Sexton said the issue had been ongoing for 28 years. He said sewage “had to be” going into the River Argideen during periods of heavy rainfall and the river supplied drinking water to Clonakilty and surrounding areas.

“We need a bit of action here. It has been going on far too long and nothing has changed,” he said.

Supporting the motion, Fianna Fáil councillor Joe Carroll said: “It’s an outrage and to think this is going into the River Argideen. This is not right and a lot of people in Clon probably wouldn’t drink the water if they knew.

“It is more than disgraceful, it’s outrageous.”

Social Democrats councillor Isobel Towse said a timeframe and detailed plan should be sought from Uisce Éireann.

She added: “You can only imagine the amount of chlorine that goes into the water to counteract the bacteria.”

Mr Sexton said in his view, the failures of Uisce Éireann were such that the body “should be disbanded”.

Senior officials in the utility were “getting bonuses for not delivering”, he added: “They need to cop on. They are not delivering.”

He said he would also advise people in Clonakilty not to drink the water.

“I even know someone whose dog won’t drink it.”

Ger Barry, acting director of services from Cork County Council’s environment directorate, said: “Uisce Éireann, which is regulated by the EPA, are responsible for the Shannonvale public wastewater treatment plant. Cork County Council will write to the EPA on the matter as requested in this notice of motion.”