The newly published EPA Urban Waste Water Report includes Shannon amongst 44 towns where wastewater infrastructure was deemed not to have complied with all of the mandatory effluent quality and sampling standards in 2012.
However, Cllr McLoughlin has said that the fact that Shannon is the only location where odour problems persist "raises questions" about the nature of the waste being channelled through the town's sewerage infrastructure.
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The former Mayor of Shannon explained: "The EPA has already carried out its own investigation into the source of the odour problem and has concluded that the current sewerage scheme is not for purpose and has resulted in the problem. However, similarly poorly equipped infrastructure exists in 43 other towns that do not suffer from similar odour problems, which begs the question of what is going through the local sewerage network to cause such problems here."
While acknowledging Irish Water's ongoing delivery of Mechanical and Electrical upgrading works at four Pumping Stations on the scheme, Cllr. McLoughlin said: "There is a general consensus among the people of Shannon that the EPA has not provided satisfactory or detailed answers relating to what other issues other than the ageing infrastructure might be contributing to the odour nuisances.
"The odour problems affecting Shannon town and its residents have been ongoing since 2002 and it is entirely unacceptable that a comprehensive explanation to their source has not yet been adequately addressed."
(CD/MH)
