Uisce Eireann blasted as raw sewerage spews onto footpath igniting health concerns in Tullamore

Scathing criticism was levelled at Uisce Eireann formerly Irish Water at the January meeting of Tullamore Municipal District over its repeated failure to take action regarding an emergency sewerage problem in an area of Tullamore.

Despite numerous calls from residents and councillors, the problem of flooding accompanied by raw sewerage pouring from a manhole on the footpath at Tyrell's Road, nothing has been done.

The sewerage, which is accompanied by toilet paper, spews onto the footpath and road when it rains and often spreads as far as the start of the canal greenway. A canal run was cancelled recently due to the flooding.

Councillors blasted Uisce Eireann describing it as  akin to being in a third world country and demanded that Uisce Eireann do something immediately.

Councillor Sean O'Brien called for a suspension of standing orders at January's Municipal District meeting to discuss the issue. ''This is not something we expect to see in our town or anywhere in our municipal district in 2023 or 2024.

Cllr O'Brien said he paid a recent visit to the area following heavy rainfall and the area was completely flooded. He said the flood water was contaminated by sewerage which was on the footpath and the road. The Independent councillor noted that when cars went through the water it poured into people's front gardens. ''It's also flowing into the canal,'' he said.

''It's not acceptable. The people there have been putting up with that for a long number of years.''

The Independent Councillor praised the area engineer who arranged to clean up the area.

''We are doing that ourselves and it's not our direct responsibility. We are not a third world country. This simply should not be happening. We should use our clout as a municipal district council and also as a County Council to force Uisce Eireann to solve this problem,'' he said.

Cathaoirelach of Tullamore Municipal District, Councillor Declan Harvey said he had been dealing with this for the last 20 to 30 years. ''Even before I was elected people used to ring me to get onto the council.''

''I have seen the inside of that manhole where the sewerage comes in, it's about 12 to14 ft deep. The problem is the storm water and the sewerage flow into the same pipe, and with the weather on Saturday, January 5 they had to cancel the park-run.'' Cllr Harvey said one resident was told by Uisce Eireann that it will be 2028 before they can do anything.

''This needs to be addressed. I have contacted Uisce Eireann on numerous occasions and some of the staff don't even know where Tullamore is. I said you must have a file up there as long as your arm on this issue and they say they can't find it.''

Councillor Neil Feighery said he has a close friend who bought a house along Convent View recently and he is ''horrified'' with this .

'We need to see a resolution to it. We might have to drain the canal as part of the solution, the far side also has problems. We need to grasp this nettle now with Uisce Eireann. We need to get a handle on this and force Uisce Eireann to take action. They have a huge budget. It's high time action was taken.''

Councillor Tony McCormack said, ''it's like you are bringing Tullamore back into the 1920s when you had Tea Lane with no sewerage and no running water and it was all flowing outside the houses. We all know the damage that did to people's health. It's terrible to think in 2024 that we have a situation where sewerage is running on the front of people's houses. There are health issues involved also the pollution in the canal. We need a delegation to go to Irish Water and sit down in front of them and bang the drum and make sure we have support from all parties. We are being held to ransom by this crowd.''

Director of Services, Tom Shanahan, said the issue is the size of the pipe which is under the canal and needs to be replaced. He said the council has been in touch with Uisce Eireann and there is a meeting this week. ''The point is Uisce Eireann is developing plans. There is no doubting their intentions to do it, the issue is the timing of it.''

Cllr Frank Moran called for a refund from Uisce Eireann for the remedial work which to date has been carried out by Offaly County Council and which isn't its job.

''It's not as if it costs nothing, it's coming out of the Municipal District budget so I have a huge issue with that. That's a huge concern so see Irish Water with billions of a budget and we have a budget that we are stretched to work with.

''Why should we be using our budget for Uisce Eireann,'' he asked.

Councillor Danny Owens, said the real danger was the hazard to health. ''It's a very important factor in this and we should highlight that and put pressure on Uisce Eireann and ask if people get sick as a result and end up in hospital who is responsible?''

We have contacted Uisce Eireann for a response.