Ending sewage discharge a high priority, says Uisce Éireann

UISCE Éireann’s head of infrastructure delivery, Brian Sheehan, has said ending the discharge of raw sewage and improving waste water treatment are priorities for the agency.

Mr Sheehan made the comments following the recent publication of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Urban Waste Water Treatment in 2022 report which said that raw sewage is being pumped into several waterways in Cork and to the sea on the county’s coastline.

There were 26 communities around Ireland where raw sewage was being pumped into waterways.

Discharge of raw sewage 

According to the EPA’s report, raw sewage was being discharged into the sea off the coast of Ballycotton, Whitegate-Aghada and Castletownshend in Cork while waste water treatment systems in Cork City, Mitchelstown, Rathcormac, Courtmacsherry, Clonakilty and Skibbereen were failing EU standards aimed at protecting the environment.

In its report, the EPA said that Uisce Éireann had made progress in stopping discharges of raw sewage and that six villages had been connected to new treatment plants.

It stated, however, that waste water continued to harm the quality of many of Ireland’s rivers, estuaries, lakes and coastal waters.

While works to upgrade treatment plants and prevent pollution were progressing in some areas, Uisce Éireann’s delays in other areas were prolonging the risks to the environment and public health, according to the EPA report.

EPA Director Dr. Tom Ryan said it was “encouraging “ to see “continued progress in stopping the unacceptable practice of discharging raw sewage into our environment.”

“Waste water remains a significant pressure on Ireland’s waterways and is adversely impacting water quality,” said Dr. Ryan.

“The pace at which Uisce Éireann is delivering improvements needs to accelerate to prevent pollution and protect water quality.

“Uisce Éireann must take the opportunity of its new investment plan for 2025 to 2029 to deliver waste water infrastructure that meets the needs of our society and protects and improves our environment into the future.

Noel Byrne, the EPA Programme Manager, said their inspections had uncovered poor management practices at a number plants, including Skibbereen and Courtmacsherry which caused inadequately treated sewage to discharge into the environment.

“This is not acceptable as these plants have sufficient treatment capacity,” he said.

“Uisce Éireann must implement effective maintenance programmes for existing infrastructure and improve its operation and management of treatment plants to prevent such failures in future.”

'Huge strides' in addressing issues 

Responding to the EPA report, Brian Sheehan said: ““We are making huge strides in addressing these issues and we are now seeing real and tangible benefits from the unprecedented level of investment in this essential infrastructure,” said Mr. Sheehan.

Uisce Éireann said Cork had been among the counties to benefit from investment by the body and pointed to new waste water treatment plants which had been opened during 2022 in communities such as Mallow, Innishannon, Dripsey, Bandon, Coachford, Whitechurch and the Gaeltacht Mhúscraí village of Baile Mhúirne.

Uisce Éireann also said in its statement that the Cork Lower Harbour Main Drainage Scheme, a €144m investment project, had eliminated the discharge of raw sewage from Ringaskiddy-Crosshaven-Carrigaline, Ringaskiddy village, Passage-Monkstown and Cobh town.

“Now complete, this project is benefitting 20,000 homes and businesses connected to the overall scheme,” said an Uisce Éireann representative.

“Castletownbere and Inchigeelagh are another two areas that have eliminated raw sewage discharges by building brand new wastewater infrastructure where none existed previously."

New projects 

“These are among 28 areas around the country benefitting today from cleaner waters and enhanced amenities due to the construction of new wastewater treatment plants where none existed previously.

“There are currently 11 more locations under construction. This means that over 70% of all raw sewage discharges nationwide have now been eliminated, with the majority of the remainder set to end by 2025.

“In Cork, we also have projects underway in Ballycotton, Castletownshend, Whitegate/Aghada, Boherbue, Ballyvolane and Midleton.

“In addition, upgrades to wastewater treatment plants are planned for Castlemartyr, Macroom and Midleton.

“Projects under our Small Towns and Villages Growth Programme are also planned in Ballineen/Enniskean, Ballinspittle, Belgooly, Castlemagner, Killumney /Ovens, Glanworth and Lisgoold.

“These projects will be progressed through the current and future investment cycles, subject to approval and planning.”