A local authority in Co Clare is being forced to pump raw sewage into a river listed as a Candidate Special Area of Conservation because old technology at one of its pumping stations cannot cope with a growth in local population.
Ennis Town Council's sewage pump station at Francis Street is operating beyond capacity, as a result of which - with heavy rainfall - the facility automatically pumps raw sewage into the River Fergus behind several homes just 100m (328ft) away.
Ennis town engineer Tom Tiernan confirmed the council had "serious problems" with the pump station at Francis Street.
"The technology there was acceptable 25 or 30 years ago but unfortunately it no longer is. We are not going to pretend that this is a satisfactory situation, but we have not been made aware of any safety or health risk associated with it. We have explained the situation in detail to anyone who has raised it with us," he said.
Mr Tiernan added that the situation arises only when there is excess rainfall. "The pump station was designed to cater for foul sewage as well as rain run-off. When rainfall reaches a certain level, it forces sewage to be pumped into the river but that sewage has been diluted by that excess water.
"There are plans for a major upgrade of the pump house at Francis Street in the Ennis/Clarecastle drainage scheme, but until that has been approved and completed this is the alternative we are left with."
Green Party councillor Donal O'Bearra said it was "a welcome step forward" that the council had accepted the situation was serious.
"This is the first time that the council has taken responsibility in such a vocal manner and it is obviously the first step towards resolving this problem," he said.
"Ennis Town Council denied for years the pump station was unable to handle the load placed upon it by an expanding Ennis."