Cause of bad smell plaguing Kildare residents explained
Photo for illustrative purposes only
Issues with odour at Kilmead wastewater treatment plant has been because of works being carried out in relation to the diverting of wastewater flows from the old Kilmead treatment plant to the new one.
In a statment Kildare Nationalist by Lucy O’Hanlon, communications advisor for projects and communities at Uisce Éireann (UÉ), it was outlined how the issue came about.
It was explained that Uisce Éireann formally acquired operations of Kilmead wastewater treatment plant in 2021, with the plant not being fully operational nor fully maintained at that stage.
According to Ms O’Hanlon, “UÉ undertook significant work and upgrades to bring the new Kilmead WWTP (wastewater treatment plant) to operational status.”
Ms O’Hanlon further explained that the old plant was overloaded and in need of an upgrade, and so plans were developed to divert all wastewater flows from the old plant to the new one. As part of this plan, the old plant would be fully decommissioned.
According to the Uisce Éireann spokesperson, “most of the capital intervention works to allow this happen have now been completed, and once the final pipeline and manhole diversion and other ancillary works are complete, the old Kilmead WWTP can then be fully decommissioned.”
The odour is being caused by temporary over pumping of the flows which is required as part of the final works, according to Ms O’Hanlon.
She further detailed that the completion of final works will allow all treatment of wastewater flows to be treated at the new Kilmead plant, “which in turn will allow the chambers and structures that make up the old Kilmead WWTP to be completely emptied, demolished, removed (where appropriate) and backfilled, and the site left fully decommissioned.”
The contacted Uisce Éireann after the matter was raised at the most recent meeting of Athy Municipal District. Cllr Veralouise Behan brought forward a motion asking “that the council addresses wastewater issues in Kilmead sewage treatment plant.”
Cllr Behan noted the terrible smell, whilst her fellow cllrs Aoife Breslin and Cathaoirleach Ivan Keatley criticised Uisce Éireann’s communication.
Cllr Keatley said to a council official present at that meeting that he and his fellow elected members of the MD wanted to meet Uisce Éireann.
