The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has reported that wastewater discharges into the environment have been halved since last year, though significant management problems persist at treatment plants operated by Irish Water (Uisce Éireann).
The progress follows investment by Irish Water, with the completion of new treatment plants eliminating direct discharge of untreated sewage from approximately 25,000 people in Arklow, Kilrush, Omeath and Cootehill, leading to an overall halving of wastewater discharge.
However, the EPA report reveals that 59% of Irish Water’s treatment plants failed to consistently prevent pollution due to poor operational management, including equipment breakdowns, inadequate operating procedures and insufficient training. More than half of the 1,080 short-term incidents recorded last year were caused by poor management.
Wastewater from 15 towns and villages with a combined population of around 20,000 continues to be discharged into the environment daily because they remain unconnected to treatment facilities. This leads to increased nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus, as well as disease-causing bacteria and viruses entering waterways.
EPA programme manager Noel Byrne criticized the situation, saying many wastewater treatment plants fail to meet licensing standards due to poor management and maintenance. “This is unacceptable. When plants break down or are not properly managed, our environment pays the price,” he said, noting that Irish Water has been prosecuted 28 times for treatment failures.
The report also found that Irish Water was delaying work on half of the 78 priority areas requiring attention, “prolonging the risk to water quality.”
Irish Water responded that many challenges stem from the “ageing state” of its assets following decades of underinvestment. The utility said it is committed to addressing the issues through the largest multi-billion euro investment programme in its history and has implemented new organizational changes to strengthen operational oversight.