RAW sewage is flowing into the Kings River in Callan according to local residents.

The human waste is clearly visible from the Kings Bridge in the town and people are concerned that the waste might lead to a fish kill or that the contaminated water might come into contact with humans.

According to local resident Tom Holden the sewage has been spilling into the river for months. “This has been going on for a long time. The raw sewage is coming in from an overflow pipe and residents have complained to the county council on a number of occasions. The council have investigated it but the problem is continuing.

“This is a terrible problem for the people living in the Callan area and there is often a smell of sewage around the town,” he added.

Senior Engineer with Kilkenny County Council, Simon Walton confirmed that the local authority had recently investigated two complaints of sewer overflows to the Kings River in Callan.

“The first, at Kings Bridge, relates to a dedicated overflow from the public sewer network to the King’s River. As a result of previous incidences of overflow at this location Kilkenny County Council has undertaken structural works to the public sewer so as to ensure that the overflow operates in accordance with overflow design requirements. Recent investigations indicate that the structural works undertaken remain intact and that, in general, the overflow operates in accordance with design requirements. Thereafter it is most likely the case that, similar to the vast majority of urban centres in Ireland, historic domestic connections to adjoining rivers remain in place. At low water levels, experienced at this time of year, these discharges will obviously be more visible and unsightly,” he said.

Mr Walton added that the local authority was also investigating discharges into the Kings River from an area close to the Callan Business Park. “Kilkenny County Council has confirmed that there are ongoing, unauthorized sewage discharges to the Kings River in the vicinity of Callan Business Park. Investigations are now focused on the identification of the perpetrators of these discharges. Once identified Kilkenny County Council will pursue those responsible for the discharges under the Water Pollution Acts, 1977 – 1990 (as amended),” warned Mr Walton.