A DONEGAL County Council-owned treatment plant in Kilmacrennan has been described as a “significant cause” of the decline of the rare and endangered freshwater pearl mussel population in the river Leannan.
A report by the Environmental Protection Agency says an immediate upgrade of the Kilmacrennan wastewater plant is required as it is considered a significant cause of mussel decline in the lower reaches of the Leannan.
The pearl mussel lives in rivers and needs a high-quality environment to survive. Healthy mussels can live up to 200 years.
The species is in serious decline throughout Ireland and Europe and is regarded as one of the world’s most endangered animals.
The Leannan catchment in northwest Donegal is one of the largest pearl mussel catchments in Ireland. The river flows from Lough Gartan through Lough Fern and through the town of Ramelton into Lough Swilly.
The report on the freshwater pearl mussel population in the Leannan sub-basin area (second draft) says there are other threats from hundreds of badly built and serviced septic tanks in the area, as well as two local quarries and a site clearance at Maghernagran.
“The pressures outlined above all have the ability to negatively affect the status of the freshwater pearl mussel,” the report stated.
“In some cases, a single pressure alone may be enough to cause a kill or ongoing chronic effects, but in most cases it is the combination of the negative effects of a number of pressures that are acting together to leave the freshwater pearl mussel habitat in unfavourable condition.”
Donegal County Council said that, as a result of the report, Kilmacrennan treatment plant was prioritised for inclusion in the 2010–2012 Water Services Investment Programme.
“Donegal County Council is also currently reviewing all discharge licences as required by the European Communities Environmental Objectives (Surface Waters) Regulations 2009,” a spokesman said.
The council said it had been successful in obtaining up to €2.3 million in EU funding for a further programme aimed at protecting the freshwater pearl mussel.