Contaminated water pictured in a stream outside Castleblayney last week by The Sunday Independent
Following this morning’s monthly meeting of the council, Louth Local Authorities have issued a press statement regarding Dundalk’s water supply.
A newspaper article yesterday claimed that the town’s water was being contaminated as a result of fuel launderers pouring toxic waste into rivers.
However, in a statement released just before lunchtime, the council said that they carried out regular sampling which was “fully compliant”.
They vowed to investigate the claims made in The Sunday Independent though.
The statement read:
“Louth County Council noted media reports yesterday regarding an alleged pollution discharge to Lough Ross in Co Armagh entering the River Fane system which is the source of the drinking water supply for Dundalk.
“Louth County Council on behalf of Irish water has contacted the Water Pollution Inspectorate in Northern Ireland to investigate the alleged incident.
“It is alleged in the media that an oil laundering plant is operating in South Armagh and discharging to a tributary which feeds Lough Ross in Co Armagh.
“The Council carries out regular sampling at various properties throughout the water distribution system for Dundalk. The drinking water sample results for Dundalk Public Water Supply Scheme for 2014 for PAHs is fully compliant with the Drinking Water Regulations and below the 0.1µg/L limit.
“The river water results taken at the Dundalk Water Supply abstraction point on the River Fane during 2014 show COD is less than 40mg/l during the year and therefore compliant with the Quality of Surface Water Intended for the Abstraction of Drinking Water Regulations.
“The drinking water samples for Dundalk Town and Environs have all been compliant with the Drinking Water Regulations 2013 with the exception of one instance of lead detection. The investigation of this lead non-compliance showed there was no lead on the public side of the public water supply.”
Earlier today, the council also confirmed they would be seeking the Sunday Independent’s evidence of the alleged contamination, which the paper said could cause cancers and abnormalities in unborn babies.
Talk of the Town 