COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF TALLAGHT AREA COMMITTEE (1)
Monday, May 19, 2008
QUESTION NO. 2
QUESTION: Councillor M. Corr
"To ask the Manager to arrange for a major clean-up of the Whitestown stream in the Jobstown and Killinarden areas and to state what measures have been put in place to eliminate pollution of rivers/streams in the Tallaght area?"
REPLY:
An inspection of the stream from Jobstown Road to Whitestown Way was carried out by Environmental Services Department staff on the 9th May 2008 in the context of;
(a) Drainage Maintenance
(b) Pollution Control (Biological and Chemical)
(c) Litter Management
(a) This stream is maintained regularly by the Drainage Maintenance Crew for the purpose of removing anything of a nature that may potentially block screens on the stream and cause flooding.
(b) Currently, the Council investigates all pollution complaints and follows through on any issues that are unearthed. In cases where alleged guilty individuals or organisations are identified such follow up action can be:
1. Instruction to cease pollution;
2. Issue legal notices in the form of Section 12 notices under the Water Pollution
Act or
3. Requirement to apply for a discharge licence
© On the day of the inspection significant dumping of black plastic bags was evident behind houses at Dromcarra Avenue, in the vicinity of the stream. This has been reported to the Litter Warden for the area. It is also evident that litter from the surrounding park area blows into the stream. Once in the stream it is dealt with by the Drainage Crews where built ups are evident and in particular at the trash screens.
A significant sum of money is expended annually in the area of waste disposal removed from rivers and streams in the County, including the Jobstown / Killinarden stream.