AN INVESTIGATION is under way into the cause of a fish kill on the Vartry river in Co Wicklow.
Inland Fisheries Ireland, Dublin City Council and Wicklow County Council inspected the area, a 9km stretch from Roundwood downstream of the reservoir to Ashford, on Thursday after a complaint about a significant number of dead fish.
The Vartry flows from Roundwood reservoir, which is part of the water supply network for the greater Dublin region, as well as parts of Wicklow. As the investigation continued yesterday there was no indication if agricultural, industrial or chemical pollution might be involved.
An inland fisheries spokeswoman said an investigation was ongoing to identify the source and cause of the kill. It was “unusual” to have this kind of kill at this time as the water levels were very high.
She said salmon and trout had been killed but the number could not be confirmed due to high water levels.
A dead heron was also found, although it was unclear if this was related to the fish kill. Inland fisheries staff had noted the presence of live fish along the affected stretch of the river.
Wicklow council said the raw water supply intake from the Vartry to the treatment plant at Cronroe has been temporarily shut off as a precaution. However, the supply of treated water will not be affected.
A spokeswoman for Dublin City Council said there had been no effect on the water supply.