Manure dumped beside public water supply in Donegal

There are fears around public health and potential contamination of the water supply after animal manure was dumped beside a reservoir serving thousands of homes and businesses.

Multiple loads of animal fecal matter have been tipped beside Mindoran Lake public water supply, which is located along the R244 Mountain Road between Buncrana and Carndonagh.

Mindoran has a mains intake pipe, which pumps drinking water to most of North Inishowen, including Clonmany, Carndonagh, Malin Head, Culdaff, Gleneely and beyond.

The manure has been dumped on ‘commonage’ land just yards from the shoreline of the lake, sparking concern that run-off could easily seep into the drinking supply.

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Some locals have expressed concern that the authorities have not reacted quickly enough to shut down the potential source of contamination, which was first reported three weeks ago.

Donegal County Council says it is aware of the incident and has launched an investigation, while Irish Water has also been informed.

The presence of E. coli bacteria from animal waste in the water brings a number of potential risks for humans, including gastrointestinal illness, as well as skin, ear, respiratory, eye, neurologic, and wound infections.

The Inishowen Independent visited the site in recent days and saw clear signs of manure still there, less than twenty yards from the lake.

The Council says it has inspected the dump site too and is actively attempting to identify those responsible.

“As much of the land around the lake is commonage, efforts are being made to identify who was responsible for dumping the material and who will be required to remove it, but the matter is being investigated further,” a DCC spokesperson said.

“Given the extended dry period in recent weeks, the possibility of any leaching of effluent into the lake was much reduced, but it is clear that the shore of this drinking water abstraction lake is not a suitable location for the application of farmyard manure and represents a breach of the Good Agricultural Practice Regulations.”

They added: “Uisce Eireann have been advised of the issue and an update on routine testing of the supply has been requested from them.”

A spokesperson for Uisce Éireann said: “This reported incident was forwarded to the Environmental Section of Donegal County Council on 10 March 2025 for their investigation, as the local authority obtain enforcement powers in the catchment area.”

“As with all treatment plant operations, Uisce Éireann can confirm that the raw water and final water quality is continually monitored to ensure final water quality is not impacted.”

Meanwhile, the issue is expected to be raised at a public meeting to discuss ongoing water problems in the Clonmany area at the Market House on Wednesday evening, April 2.