Sewage washing up on beach

A €20 million revamp of sewage works in a Waterford town won’t stop nappies, condoms and sewage effluent washing up on the beach, it has emerged.

A major revamp of the sewerage scheme in Tramore, Co Waterford, is underway but while the collection system, pipeline, mechanical and electrical works will be upgraded and other treatment plant works are mooted, the storm overflow problems will not now be addressed.

The town council wants the overflow system problems addressed immediately and wants money provided for the works now so that the problem can be resolved. Town councillor Anne Marie Power said that the situation needs the Department of the Environment’s immediate attention.

County engineer John O’Flynn previously said that the problems of the past will be solved to a degree. The effluent is currently exiting at about 300 to 400 metres out at sea and will now exit at 2km.

Yesterday, senior engineer Pat McCarthy said during heavy rainfall it is possible that there could still be a storm overflow.

However, he said that the authority had made a submission to the Department of the Environment to eliminate this problem.