Raw sewage scandal — so many dangers with dumping untreated waste into our waterways 

More than half of treatment plants discharge water that’s not always treated to EPA standards... and the EPA has identified 73 priority areas for urgent action

Donal Hickey: "The number of towns and villages discharging raw sewage daily has reduced from 29 to 16 since the start of 2023. And now is the time for work on the remainder when Government coffers are flush and urgent action is so obviously needed."

Serious action is expected from the new Government to end the ongoing, scandalous discharge of raw sewage into our waterways.

Based on Uisce Eireann (UE) estimates, it will take more than two decades and huge investment to bring poorly-operating treatment plants up to standard: time to get a move on, surely.

Over a billion litres flow through public sewers each day and into more than 1,000 treatment plants which discharge into rivers, lakes, estuaries and coastal waters.

Sewage fungus at storm water pipe outfall on the River Bride. Appears to have been going on for a while. Reported to @corkcitycouncil Hopefully it can be fixed soon. #cork pic.twitter.com/ehKip8mEXd

— Save Our Bride Otters (@savebrideotters) March 30, 2022

Such treatment is essential for the protection of public health and the environment. Untreated, or poorly treated, wastewater can make people sick, after all. Over half of plants discharge water that’s not always treated to EPA standards and the EPA has identified 73 priority areas for urgent action.

It must also be pointed out that the number of towns and villages discharging raw sewage daily has reduced from 29 to 16 since the start of 2023.

And now is the time for work on the remainder when Government coffers are flush and urgent action is so obviously needed. Why not dip into the €14billion Apple windfall?

With no Green Party participation in the new administration, there’s a danger environmental issues will slip down the priority list. But, the incoming minister (not known at time of writing) responsible for sewage treatment ought to provide UE with the money, and resources to do the job.

An EPA report last October bluntly said delays are adversely affecting water quality. UE is implementing plans to make six of the areas failing to meet standards compliant levels before the end of this year.

Feargal's Big Dummy's Guide to Sewage Dumping updated 22/12/2023. pic.twitter.com/108UMuVyHx

— Feargal Sharkey (@Feargal_Sharkey) December 22, 2023

Nevertheless, necessary work in four areas — Lahinch, County Clare, Cloyne, County Cork, Moville, County Donegal, and Malahide, Dublin — has not started and may take until the end of the decade, according to the EPA.

Uisce Eireann meanwhile says compliance with environmental regulations for both water and wastewater is at higher levels than ever before and new operating standards have been critical in dealing with situations.

Identifying key priorities for investment has enabled UE to make improvements. Highlights include 136 new wastewater treatment plants built, or upgraded, since 2014: “Raw sewage discharges have been eliminated in 34 locations, including large agglomerations such Cork Lower Harbour, Bundoran, and Spiddal, while projects are under construction in nine more locations, including Arklow, County Wicklow."

Other major investments include the Athlone Main Drainage Scheme and a €550m upgrade of the Ringsend treatment plant, Dublin, due for completion this year.

“This will ensure that over 95% of wastewater generated in Ireland’s large urban areas will be treated to the required standard."

A lot more to do...