OFFICIALS from Monaghan County Council and the Eastern Regional Fisheries Board struggled at the weekend to contain a major pollution incident which threatened Emy Lough - the source lake for the troubled Glaslough-Tyholland Group Water Scheme.

A council spokesperson told the Monaghan Post that the pollution on the Mountain Water not only threatened Emy Lough, but also resulted in a major fish kill.

Evidence of un-authorised dumping of waste and slurry was also discovered by Council Environment officials at a remote site in Drumfurrer, Emyvale, within 1km of the Mountain Water on the same date. Investigations into both incidents are continuing.

Director of Services Paul Clifford stated: “The decline in raw water quality in our lakes and rivers throughout the county is impacting on drinking water sources.

“Incidents such as this have major environmental impacts on the river and add greatly to the difficulties in treating water to meet the EC Drinking Water Standards”.

In County Monaghan, six public water supply schemes and 19 group water schemes, supplying in excess of 30,000 people, depend on surface waters for their source.

Monaghan County Council is asking the public to report details of any suspicious movements of waste (liquid wastes or animal slurries) to its environmental hotline at 1-800-200014 or 047-30500.

Director of Services Paul Clifford told the Monaghan Post that he believed the pollution was “completely unrelated” to the ongoing water crisis in Glaslough and Tyholland, although he did say that it highlighted the “whole overall delicate situation with water in general”.

Restrictions on the water on the Glaslough/Tyholland Group Water Scheme are still in place, although an Action Plan has been prepared by the scheme, and testing is taking place. Bottled water is available to members at Tyholland Community Centre and the Treatment Plant and drinking water is still available from the public taps located at the Enterprise Centre, Emyvale (opposite the Parish Field), the Monument, Main Street, Glaslough, and the Machinery Yard, Plantation, Monaghan (beside Monaghan Fire Station and Garda Station).

Director of Services Paul Clifford told the Monaghan Post that it was hoped that the supply would be “back online in the first week of June.”