Councillors claim river is too polluted to use in public water supply

A STRONG case has been made against using the River Roughty, in south Kerry, as a source for a new public water supply in Kenmare.

Some local councillors have claimed the well-known angling river is so polluted that children are not allowed to swim in it, while farmers are also opposed to abstracting Roughty water for human consumption.

A deputation from the Kilgarvan area told a council committee meeting that farming activities would be severely curbed, as there would be restrictions on slurry spreading and other agricultural practices, under European Union directives, if the river was to be used for public supplies.