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Uisce Éireann Has No Plan To Deal With Midlands Waste Water Issues - EPA

Thursday, 26 October 2023 07:28

The EPA's latest report underlines grave concerns about water quality in Ireland.

Three Olympic sized swimming pools of raw untreated sewage is flowing into Ireland's water systems every day. 

The latest Urban Waste Water Treatment report from the EPA says less than half of waste water here is treated to European standards,  with huge issues recorded in Dublin and Cork.

Waste water is posing a threat to the surface water quality in a number of midlands towns as well.

Ballymore, Portarlington, and Kilcormac are all highlighted in the report as being compromised by waste water, or potentially farming or forestry.

The report states that Uisce Eireann currently has no plan in place to address the issues in Offaly, Laois and Westmeath.

Noel Byrne from the EPA says now is the time for the utility to step up:

The Envinromental Protection Agency is "not happy" with Uisce Éireann's performance in relation to water quality treatment in the midlands.

Jim Moriarty is a Senior Inspector with the EPA, he says Uisce Éireann have a lot of work to do:

Uisce Éireann says ending raw sewage discharges and improving wastewater treatment across the country are "priorities."

It's highlighting its investment in wastewater treatment plants in Edenderry and Portlaoise, and a 114 million euro upgrade to the Main Drainage Scheme in Athlone.

Wastewater Spokesperson with the body, Micheal Tinsely, says the EPA's Urban Wastewater Treatment report confirms huge progress in tackling deficiencies in the Irish wastewater system:

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