EPA report puts Uisce Éireann in hot water
More than four hours were allowed to pass before operators of a Cork city water pumping station acted upon an alarm text warning of a significant malfunction at the facility.
That’s according to a newly published report by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) relating to an incident on 28 January at the Atlantic Pond Pumping Station.
The incident led to significant flooding resulting in the closure of both Monaghan Road and Centre Park Road which in turn led to major delays in the area.
The EPA incident report found that Design Build Operator (DBO), who operate the station on behalf of Uisce Éireann, were first made aware of an issue at 03.30am on 28 January by way of an alarm text.
However, the report outlines that DBO did not attend the site to assess the issue until 8am the same morning, four and a half hours after the initial alarm text was received.
During a site visit the following day, EPA inspectors requested data on the volume of water discharged as a result of the incident.However the data was not immediately available, and inspectors were told it would take some time to provide and would only be an approximation.
EPA Inspectors also requested information from Uisce Éireann relating to contingency plans to prevent further discharges. The contingency plan was not immediately available.
At the time of the incident, there was much concern for impact the flooding might have on the freshwater Atlantic Pond which is an important habitat for Cork’s urban wildlife.
The EPA found that the text alarm system “requires significant improvement”. It also set out that Uisce Éireann must complete an in-depth review in order to ensure full preparedness for potentially similar events in the future.
The report also found that the piece of equipment that failed at the Atlantic Pond Pumping Station, known as a penstock, had been installed approximately 25 years ago.
EPA inspectors asked if a risk assessment of the penstock mechanism, operation, maintenance, and potential failures had ever been performed. They were informed by DBO that a risk assessment had been submitted to Uisce Éireann “a number of years ago” though a precise date and record of the submission could not be recollected during the visit.
DBO said the risk assessment was considered as part of the planned Early Contractor Intervention (ECI) upgrades planned for 2025.
In a statement, Uisce Éireann said it is engaging with the EPA on an ongoing basis to address the recommended actions.
“Uisce Éireann fully recognises the seriousness of the incident that occurred at Atlantic Pond Pumping Station and are co-operating fully with the EPA in relation to the post-incident investigation,” a spokesperson said.
Uisce Éireann confirmed it is investing over €4 million in The Atlantic Pond Pumping Station, with €1 million already allocated to immediate remedial works. A further €3 million upgrade of the facility is set to begin in Q3 of this year to further safeguard against any future incidents.
Expansion of water sampling programme
Uisce Éireann is continuing to address water discolouration issues in Cork city.
The company has put in place a series of prioritised measures to minimise the instances of discolouration includings planned and targeted flushing of the pipe network and ongoing investment in the Lee Road Water Treatment Plant and the city’s water network.
Alongside these measures, Uisce Éireann is further enhancing its proactive sampling and testing programme which monitors the overall quality of drinking water across Cork city.