Galway City Council has accused An Taisce of “greatly exaggerating” pollution claims and believes a new sensor measuring wastewater discharge into Galway Bay will prove the environmental group wrong.
As reported by Times.ie today, this follows an estimate by An Taisce that over 30 Olympic swimming pools full of pollution is being discharged monthly into the river Corrib and bay.
City councillors have been told this week that a new “level sensor/event monitor” installed at Long Walk overlooking the Claddagh in September will make an “informed estimate”.
It is one of a series of measures being undertaken by Galway City Council and Irish Water, councillors were told.
An Taisce’s report, which was recently submitted to both Galway City Council and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), drew an angry reaction last month from the local authority.
A seven-page report issued by Galway City Council this week says it is “not discharging raw sewage from foul sewers into Galway Bay”.
It also says there is “no issue” with the Mutton island waste water treatment plant which is monitored by the EPA.
It says that it is working with Irish Water to deal with “issues” associated with two of the city’s beaches to “improve their status”.
Galway City Council says that “all known discharges are reported to the EPA”.
It also points out that the city has four designated bathing areas over 10km of coastline, with two having Blue Flag and Green Coast status and says their protection is of the “utmost importance”.
Read more on Times.ie here