CITY COUNCIL BACKS UP WATER POLLUTION CLAIMS BY MINISTER

Date Published: 16-Jan-2012

Galway City Council says it's plausible that the cryptosporidium outbreak in Galway in 2007 could have been caused by septic tanks.

Director of Services, Ciarán Hayes, says ground water levels at the time were extremely high and septic tanks could have been infiltrated.

It follows comments by Minister for the Environment, Phil Hogan today that septic tanks were to blame for the contamination, which resulted in the need to use bottled water for months.

Independent MEP, Marian Harkin is angered by Minister Hogan's comments and says he has no evidence to back up his claim.

She claims it's scare mongering in order to get the legislation on the septic tank charge passed.