Sewage sludge stench ‘made children sick’

CHILDREN got physically sick from the horrible smell from sewage sludge that had been spread on farmland, it was claimed yesterday.

Serious concern was expressed about the stench from the sludge that comes from the Killarney waste water treatment plant.

The plant produces about 350 tonnes of dry sludge each year. The sludge is transported by vacuum tanker to 10 different farms around Killarney for use as fertiliser.

Killarney Cllr Michael Gleeson, raising the issue, asked what monitoring was done by Kerry County Council.

He said a number of residents had experienced “severe discomfort” because the slurry was being spread close to their houses and to bed and breakfasts.

“This gives off a very offensive odour, certainly when it is spread in dry weather,” he said. “If it’s spread in rain, the smell disappears shortly after. There should be consultation with a reliable Met office regarding the time of spreading.

“I’m concerned that farmers may disregard their immediate neighbours on a regular basis throughout the year.”

Cllr Brendan Cronin told a meeting of Killarney councillors it was a very serious issue for people living near the farms.

“I know of a case where the smell was so overpowering that children got sick from it. I was told some time ago by the council that the sludge is pasteurised, but the smell was certainly not pasteurised. Maybe some tests should be carried out for faults in the treatment plant,” he said.

A council spokesman said there was space for six weeks’ storage at the plant and farmers could store the sludge in slatted units prior to spreading. The sludge was spread when the farmer wished to do so - when the weather and crop conditions were suitable.

Since 2002, a nutrient management plan had to be prepared for each farm on which sludge was spread. Soil was analysed and levels of phosphate and potassium measured.

However, the spokesman said only three such management plans had been prepared so far and work on the remaining seven was underway. There was also a sludge register which contained details of all sludge matters relating to the plant.

Mr Gleeson said checks should be carried out to ensure the sludge was spread in accordance with nutrient management plans. He was concerned that such plans were available on only three farms.

He also asked that no sludge be spread in the immediate vicinity of Lough Guitane, Killarney, the source of public water supplies for much of Co Kerry.

Asked to comment while on a visit to Killarney yesterday, Environment Minister Martin Cullen said a lot of regulations were in place regarding sludge disposal.

“Effectively, it’s for the local authority in charge of the situation to deal with it,” he said.