Call to Ban Human Slurry on Wicklow land

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Call to Ban Human Slurry on Wicklow land

Thursday, June 7 2007

Following last week's revelations that untreated human slurry is being spread on Wicklow land, a number of residents have stepped forward to report breaches of environmental regulations, according to Cllr. John Brady of Sinn Féin.

It has also led to calls from Brady for all environmental groups and concerned residents to lobby Wicklow County Council to ban the practise in the county. Currently 8,823 tonnes of human sludge is taken from sewage plants in Dublin, Wicklow and Westmeath. Lime is added before it is mixed with 6 million litres of toxic leachate from the Rampere landfill. The resulting concoction is spread on farmland as fertiliser. Just 795 tonnes, or 9%, of the human sewage comes from Co. Wicklow. The rest is imported.

Spreading human slurry on land is banned in Germany, Holland and Denmark. It has been banned by four county councils here: Offaly, Roscommon, Meath and Cavan.

Regarding his feedback from last week's exposure of the sewage operation, Brady said: "Perhaps the most ironic and hypocritical disregard for environmental laws can be found in the Blessington area around the reservoir."

"Residents there are not allowed to build new houses within a certain distance of the lake because Dublin City Council objects claiming it will have an adverse impact on drinking water," Brady said.

But the same council happily ships off 6,828 tonnes to Wicklow for dispersal on farmland, Brady noted. That is over three-quarters (77.4%) of all human waste spread in Wicklow.

"Needless to say, I had a few phone calls from Blessington residents bewildered and annoyed at the stance taken by Dublin. They told me that the sludge is spread on farmland around the reservoir. For those who have not experienced it, there is no confusing the difference between animal and human slurry. The smell is a dead giveaway," Brady said.

Meanwhile, residents in Aughrim also called to complain. One man read last week's report and picked up his phone finally relieved that he had someone to talk to about this issue. "He just did not know where to turn to," Brady said.

"I am calling now on all interested parties to put immediate pressure on Wicklow County Council, especially on those who consider themselves 'environmentalists' to call a halt to this dangerous programme," Brady said.

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