Concerns grow over water quality in Killarney lake

There are fears a toxic algal bloom crisis — similar to what occurred in Lough Neagh earlier this year — could develop in Lough Leane

There are fears a proposed housing development would further reduce water quality in Lough Leane. Picture: Don MacMonagle

Concerns are growing over the water quality in Killarney’s largest lake, with questions being asked about the efficiency of the 30-year-old Killarney Waste Water Treatment Plant.

There are fears a toxic algal bloom crisis — similar to what occurred in Lough Neagh earlier this year — could develop in the tourist town’s famed Lough Leane.

A recent appeal by an angling club against a housing development to An Bord Pleanála highlighted concerns over water quality in the lake and the River Laune which flows from it.

The River Laune was deemed one of the two worst rivers in the State — alongside the River Annagh in Co Clare — in terms of water quality, by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in its Water Quality in 2022 report, published in June.

That EPA described the water quality in the Laune as “bad” and said it had declined since 2019.

The watchdog pointed the finger at “urban waste water” and said it believed the cause of the pollution in the Laune was the Folly Stream, which receives treated water from the Killarney Waste Water Treatment Plant.

Local independent councillor John O’Donoghue said an upgrade of the plant was overdue and he feared a Lough Neagh-type situation developing.

“The Killarney plant is 30 years old,” he said. “The population has grown, and there have been no significant upgrades.

“Plants need to operate well under capacity to be efficient.”

New sewage connections from large townlands such as Kilcummin are on the cards and this was welcome, but the plant had to be up to scratch, he said.

Meanwhile, the Laune Salmon and Trout Anglers’ Association in Killorglin has objected to one of Killarney’s biggest housing developments. Its appeal against a 249-unit development at The Park/Cronin’s Wood in Killarney is currently before An Bord Pleanála.

The anglers say the project would result in “significant increase in the annual daily load into the Killarney Town Sewage Treatment system and network”. Such applications should be considered “premature” until the plant is upgraded, it stated.

Uisce Éireann said it continued to work closely with the EPA to ensure  the wastewater treatment plant operates in compliance with its licence requirements.

“In the meantime, a drainage area plan is currently being carried out to analyse flows in the network and the impact these may have on the public and the environment,” it stated. 

“Once this review is completed (by the end of the year), appropriate network measures and solutions will be identified.”

Options in relation to modifying/upgrading the existing wastewater treatment plant in order to provide for growth and continued discharge to the Folly Stream, along with the options for relocating the primary discharge to alternative discharge locations, were currently being assessed, it also said.