This article is from page 16 of the 2006-04-04 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 16 JPG
A DOOLIN pub’s wastewater exceeded its legal limits by up to six times, a court has heard.
Ennis District Court was told that an environmental technician from Clare County Council visited the waste water treatment plant at O’Connor’s pub in Doolin last August.
Karen Hayes said certain limits were set out for discharges from a wastewater treatment plant.
She analysed samples and found that Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) was six times the legal limit and suspended solids exceeded the legal limit by four times. BOD is an indicator of organisms in the water.
She stressed that the pub’s proprietor, Patrick Sexton, had authorised considerable works to be carried out at the site over a number of weeks and this was ongoing.
In this regard, a company employed by Mr Sexton attended the site. Ms Hayes said work got underway in January and had been ongoing since.
She said Bord na Móna had also been employed on site.
“Bord na Móna have been on site and have recommended works to be carried out,” she said.
Solicitor for the council, Mairéad Doyle, said, “He was slow in taking steps but Clare Council is happy he is carrying out work on the plant.”
She said there had been reductions in the levels of both BOD and suspended solids, since the summons was served.
Judge Joseph Mangan asked what were the effects of BOD and suspended solids.
Ms Hayes said when effluent was not treated property, the number of bugs increased and took oxygen out of the water. This affected plant and animal life.
She said the river discharged just outside O’Connor’s public house and was not used for fishing at that point.
Judge Joseph Mangan said he was declining jurisdiction and adjourned the case until June, for a Book of Evidence to be served.