Tipperary Co. Co. Admit Raw Sewage Flows Into River Suir

Raw sewage is flowing from the local authority sewage treatment plant in Thurles, Co. Tipperary; directly into the River Suir, downstream.

**Section of River Suir beyond Cabra Bridge, Thurles, Co. Tipperary, as observed on September 19th, 2019.** *Photo: G.Willoughby*.

The Director of Services for Water, currently stationed with Tipperary County Council, Mr Marcus O’Connor, has finally admitted that double standards are permitted, when it comes to environmental issues affecting the River Suir here in Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

As our readers will be aware, the River Suir first rises on the slopes of the Devil’s Bit Mountain, north of Templemore in north Co. Tipperary.
It flows through the village of Loughmore before encountering the towns of Thurles, Holycross, Cahir, Clonmel and Carrick-on-Suir, before entering the sea in Co. Waterford.

The river stretches for some 184km in total length and less than 30km from Thurles begins a 53km stretch, now known as the Suir Blueway, strongly recommended I might add to tourists who enjoy water sports.

Tipperary Tourism – The Suir Blueway
The Suir Blueway Tipperary is the perfect escape for all the family to savour some of Ireland’s most beautiful countryside and fascinating history.
Enjoy a paddle on flowing waters, go for a cycle along river banks, take a hike up nearby mountains, or a more sedate stroll in the bustling medieval towns and villages, from Cahir to Clonmel and on to Carrick-on-Suir.
Popular with anglers, this area holds plentiful reserves of brown trout, we are informed.

Speaking on TippFM Radio this morning, Mr O’Connor stated; “It is not an everyday occurrence. There are a number of overflows and in times of high intensity rainfalls those overflows operate and you do get sewage getting into the river Suir and that’s not ideal”.

Further according to Mr O’Connor; a plan is in the design stage however the solution will be “a couple of years before anything is done on the ground”.

Thurles.Info, the well-known ‘scaremongering website’, have been writing about this issue constantly since 2016, ending up with reporting the issue, on 16/08/19, to the Office of Environmental Enforcement who chose to ignore the issue.

Meanwhile Tipperary Co. Council invites us to “get closer to the water”, but we assume they are not referring to the River Suir.