Irish Examiner - 19/08/05
Third industrial spill in a week
By Mary Dundon, Political Reporter

THE Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is investigating a third industrial spillage incident in Cork within the past week, it was confirmed yesterday.

The chemical giant Eli Lilly reported a discharge of 250 litres of water containing higher than normal acid levels from their site containment pond into a nearby stream at their plant outside Kinsale on August 15.

Tests showed there was a lower than normal pH (5.5) outflow from the pond into a nearby stream, the EPA report states. When an acidic substance is added to water it lowers the pH level. The normal pH level is 7.

“Initial indications are that the estimated release of 250 litres has had no environmental impact and the remaining pond water has been pumped to an on-site wastewater treatment plant,” the EPA report adds.

EPA inspectors are investigating the incident and will prepare a report.

“The priority for the EPA is to ensure that the necessary management practices are in place to eliminate the causes of this type of incident,” a spokeswoman said.

An Eli Lilly spokesman said “salty water” in the pond brought down the pH levels a bit, but tests carried out by the company and subsequently by the EPA found it had no environmental impact.

Details of the third incident were released as part of the EPA’s policy to publicise all incidents on its website. The system was launched following public outcry about the EPA’s failure to inform the public about the spillage of 255 tonnes of caustic soda into Cork Harbour on July 3.

The EPA is investigating two other incidents in Cork, one of which was at the GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) chemical plant in Cork Harbour.

The incident occurred on August 13 when 400 litres of 25% caustic solution were spilled during loading operations at the plant.

The second investigation follows a discharge into the River Gradoge beside the Dairygold Mitchelstown plant last Saturday.

Responding to the revelation that there were three industrial pollution spillages reported to the EPA within five days, Cork Green Party TD Dan Boyle said: “If these figures hold up, we could be looking at up to 200 industrial accidents within a year and this shows a great need for the EPA to improve its policing and monitoring of industry.”

Waste water:

* April 2005: GlaxoSmithKline admits waste due for incineration was piped to a waste treatment plant.

* July 3, 2005: 255 tonnes of caustic soda leaks from the ADM Ringaskiddy plant into Cork Harbour.

* August 13, 2005: 400 litres of caustic solution spill at GlaxoSmithKline.

* August 13, 2005: Pollution seeps into the Gradoge River in Mitchelstown after work on Dairygold land.

* August 15, 2005: chemical giant Eily Lilly reported that 250 litres of water containing lower than normal levels of pH were discharged from the company’s containment pond outside Kinsale into a nearby stream.