Uisce Éireann says it “supports” the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) call for significant and sustained national investment in wastewater infrastructure.
In a report published late this week, the EPA criticised the slow pace of upgrade and said that “two decades is too long” to fix Ireland’s deficient wastewater treatment plants.
The EPA reported that the number of towns and villages discharging raw sewage every day has reduced from 29 down to 16 since the beginning of 2023.
However, it said that wastewater treatment at ten large towns and cities failed to meet European Union standards set to protect the environment.
In a response, Uisce Éireann said it was “making strong progress in addressing priority issues following decades of under-investment”.
The EPA reported that the number of towns and villages discharging raw sewage every day has reduced from 29 down to 16 since the beginning of 2023
It said that raw sewage discharges were now eliminated in 41 of 50 areas (82%), and 94% of wastewater treatment plants are compliant with the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive.
It said that 136 new wastewater treatment plants had been built or upgraded since 2014, but that multi-billion euro investment is required over many decades to achieve necessary standards
Michael Tinsley, Uisce Éireann’s senior wastewater delivery manager commented that “our once-in-a-generation plan to eliminate raw sewage discharges is on track to bring what can only be described as a life-changing improvement to communities around Ireland”.
“Cleaner waters, greater capacity for development and an enhanced environment are just some of the benefits these projects have delivered. We look forward to continuing the excellent progress being made to date, while acknowledging that delays remain in some areas, particularly in relation to legal challenges to planning and other consents, which are largely outside Uisce Éireann’s control,”he said.
Uisce Éireann is currently carrying out a €550 million upgrade at the Ringsend Wastewater Treatment Plant – which treats 40% of the country’s wastewater.
Acknowledging continuing challenges, Uisce Éireann said there are over 26,000 km of public sewers in Ireland and an estimated 2,600 documented storm water overflows (SWOs).
“These SWOs are an integral part of any wastewater network and are necessary to prevent flooding of homes and public areas during times of extreme rainfall. Uisce Éireann is carrying out assessments of all these SWOs, the outcome of which will inform investment decisions and prioritisation through future investment cycles,”it said.
“Milestones reached in 2023 included the completion of important sewer network upgrade projects in Roscommon and Mallow, with construction now underway on the Athlone Sewerage Scheme,”it said.
Michael Tinsley noted: “Uisce Éireann invested over €436 million in wastewater infrastructure in 2023 but will require a multi-million euro investment programme over many investment cycles to continue to improve infrastructure and to keep pace with the increased demand for new serviced land needed for housing, commercial developments and industry.”
“ Ireland’s growing population and industrial activity, combined with the challenges being presented by climate change, must also be factored in when considering long-term investment requirements and capital investment plans,” Tinsley said.
