Waterford Port has filled in parts of the city's harbour to prevent further illegal dumping of effluent into the Suir estuary. The Authority has removed 39 containers of waste material, including the toxic compound creosote, from Frank Cassin Wharf since last Monday.
Part of the Wharf wall is now being filled in with cement. The estuary is a designated Special Area of Conservation.
The material had been dumped by a container cleaning company, Belview Container Cleaners Ltd. One of the company's directors is Maurice Downey, a former Lord Mayor of Waterford.
The environmental group, Coastwatch, issued legal proceedings against the Port on the basis that it owns the Wharf. The matter is due before the High Court again on Monday week.
A Coastwatch spokeswoman said they were "delighted" with the work conducted so far. This includes the employment of environmental consultants by the Port. A Port spokesman said that virtually all of the material has been removed.
