Probe after hazardous waste dumped near river

A probe is under way after more than 100 containers containing hazardous waste were found dumped near a river in Cork.

Officials from Cork County Council’s environment directorate recovered the containers from a 10m stretch of the banks of the Owenabue, near Shannonbank in Carrigaline, on Wednesday.

While most were empty, some had several millilitres of pesticides, fungicides, and herbicides swishing around inside. The others contained residual amounts of corrosive chemicals.

FX O’Dywer, executive scientist with the council’s environment directorate, said the hazardous material posed a contamination risk to ground water.

“It is concerning that these used containers and their chemicals, which have significant polluting power potential, were discarded in such a flippant manner. A litre of pesticide has the power to contaminate between 10,000 and 30,000 litres of water,” he said.

Officials are investigating if any water source was affected, and further tests are needed to determine whether the chemicals have had any impact on wildlife.

Officials have appealed to anyone with information to email [e-mail].

Meanwhile, the council has taken action to address the discharge of sewage in to the Bandon river, near the Graham Norton walkway.

A spokesman said “the source was a storm water drain outfall pipe which needed attention”.