Fears of e-coli outbreak as raw sewage left on streets
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HOMEOWNERS and businesses have been warned of a risk to public health as flood waters subside and raw sewage settles onto land and streets.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) last night warned of e-coli contamination caused by flooded septic tanks and compromised wastewater treatment plants, urging the public to make sure that animals in contact with sewage were kept away from people.
It said that repairs to the Cork drinking water plant were progressing well, but that it could be next week before clean water is restored to the city.
Pumps and electrical equipment were damaged during the flooding, but repairs are ongoing. The clearwater tank -- which holds treated water -- was also compromised but luckily the filters used to provide safe drinking water escaped the worst ravages of the flooding.
"In Cork there's 600km of mains," a spokesman said. "If people are drawing off the water there's residue in the pipes, that means the system will have to be flushed out with the first amount of treated water.
"If you've got a network drained by the consumers, and there's nothing in the network, there could be silt in the pipe so it would be precautionary to flush it out.
"You would then have fresh water in the system which could be used to flush toilets and for washing.
"Drinking water would come out of the taps but for a precautionary reason there could be 'boil water' notice for a couple of days until tests come back to say it's all clear."
Wastewater treatment plants are better protected from flood waters because the equipment would be designed to cope with a more corrosive environment. But there is a risk to the public of e-coli contamination from these plants and from overflowing septic tanks.
"Flooded land will have problems," the spokesman said. "If you have poorly-designed septic tanks, what will happen is the water will fill up the tank much faster. The effluent will stop going into the percolation tank, and the tank will fill out.
Contaminated
"This means back gardens could be full of sewage which people would need to guard against. You could also have a well nearby. It would be advisable to check the septic tank to see if it's been compromised, and if it is, to check your well.
"If the material can be collected and put back into the tank that would be advisable. You're talking about dried sewage which is contaminated with e-coli. I would have concerns about dogs and animals running around the place and having contact with humans."
In Cork and Ballinasloe, among the areas hardest hit, the sewage could wash away with the flood waters. But people should be "vigilant", he said.
- Paul Melia
Irish Independent
