Irish Water ordered to carry out clean-up of sludge released into river in North Cork

Sludge from water treatment plant near village of Freemount discharged into River Allow over several days in August, audit found

The EPA has also instructed Irish Water to implement an action programme to improve the sludge-handling facilities at the plant to prevent a recurrence of the issue.

Irish Water has been ordered to carry out a clean-up of the River Allow in North Cork due to a discharge of sludge from a water treatment plant near the village of Freemount this summer.

An audit of the Allow regional public water supply by the Environmental Protection Agency found sludge had been discharged into the river over several days from August 5.