'Tennis court-sized' sewage pool next to Kildare estate

OVERFLOWING sewage has spread to the size of a tennis court next to a Kildare estate.

The problem is affecting 34 homes in The Paddocks, Crookstown. 

 “It’s horrendous. We have to try and keep our kids out of that field,” said the estate resident who contacted the Kildare Nationalist to highlight the problem.

“The sewage is flowing out of the Group Water Scheme tank in the field, and it’s spread over an area the size of a tennis court.

“The houses pump it into reed beds, through two gravel beds, where it’s filtrated and then into the river [Greise, about 150m away].

“The pumps were removed in 2023 when it last overflowed – I’d say it was the council – and the tanks were left to fill up again”.

The Paddocks estate was completed in 2005 and then connected up to a temporary Group Water Septic Scheme, while the council was due to get planning and funding to lay the pipe to the mains at St Laurence’s National School 300m away, according to the resident.

However, due to a land issue, this has not taken place.

“The council came down just after Christmas and their rep confirmed the overflow, but that was six weeks ago, and nothing has been done.

“Every time a toilet flushes it just comes straight out.

“Two days ago, Irish Water (Uisce Eireann) was called and came within the hour.

“Their rep called his boss, and 10 minutes later his boss called back and told him it was still under the control of Kildare County Council.

“He said it was one of the worst he’d ever seen.” He added: “It hasn’t really worked since Day One.

“A council man comes every two weeks to check levels, and six weeks ago he said it was overflowing.

“The whole thing needs to be sorted once and for all.

“We were told in 2023 that money was ring-fenced to put in this pipe to the school – and thus, the main sewer – in the village.

“I’ve even contacted the IFA because we have cattle on one side, and tillage on the other.

“We’re all left with the stench and summer is coming, so we need this fixed.

“We need to give them a kick up the arse, and get the finger out,” he concluded.

Local Cllr Ivan Keateley who is aware, and involved in the problem, also spoke to The Kildare Nationalist.

“The council is to continue tankering (the effluent away) for now, and a clean-up is planned for next week,” he confirmed.

“I have been liaising with Martin Heydon’s office, and while the legal issue is very frustrating, I am hoping that between Kildare County Council and Uisce Eireann they will get it sorted in the next 12 months.

“I feel terribly sorry for the residents there, because it’s been dragging on for years now, so it’s no harm for it to be out in the light.

“The tankering has been going on for a number of years since the reed beds failed and is obviously ongoing.

“This is an environmental catastrophe waiting to happen, as well as an awful inconvenience for the residents … (but) the gravity feed down to the school is a very simple solution.

“The legal wayleave is left for the council and Uisce Eireann to sort out, but I’ve been proactive with the landowner, and am very hopeful of progress in the next couple of months.”