The EPA wastewater report highlighted the need for significant and sustained national investment in the years to come to bring all treatment systems up to the necessary standards.
However, it also recognised the progress made thus far by Uisce Éireann, in their commitment to ending raw sewage discharges and increasing compliance with the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive.
"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," said Michael Tinsley, Uisce Éireann’s Senior Wastewater Delivery Manager.
"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."
In the first River Basin Management Plan, prior to the establishment of Irish Water, urban wastewater was identified as the second most dominant pressure on receiving waters; this has now reduced to the fourth which is the largest sectoral achievement and we have plans to continue this downward trend in our next investment cycle.
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Since 2014, the utility has ended the discharge of raw sewage in 82% of the agglomerations where this was occurring.
A total of 41 out of the original 50 locations identified as discharging raw sewage nationally now have new wastewater infrastructure in place or have projects under construction. This includes 13 completed in 2023 and to date in 2024.
The EPA report acknowledges the good progress made in this area. It highlights the Arklow wastewater treatment plant as an example of this progress.
The €139 million Arklow Sewerage Scheme is nearing completion. Works to the sewer network are complete and Uisce Éireann has recently begun the testing of the new Wastewater Treatment Plant. The plant is expected to be fully operational by 2025.
Last year also saw further strong progress in compliance with the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive. At the end of the year, compliance with the directive stood at 94% of treatment plants - the highest level achieved to date.
This has been achieved through identifying and targeting investment to the treatment plants with the greatest environmental impact.
Uisce Éireann is currently carrying out a €550 million upgrade at the Ringsend Wastewater Treatment Plant – which treats 40% of the country’s wastewater.
This will enable it to treat the increasing volumes of wastewater arriving at the plant to the required standard.
The project will deliver, on a phased basis, the capacity to treat the wastewater for a population equivalent of 2.4 million while achieving the standards of the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive.
When Ringsend comes into compliance with the Directive, it is expected that more than 95% of wastewater generated in Ireland’s large urban areas will be treated to the required standards.
Uisce Eireann completed construction of the infrastructure in Ringsend to treat the wastewater for a population equivalent of 2.1 million at the end of 2023.
Following a period of testing and commissioning the upgraded assets are operational and the EPA notes that this is already improving effluent quality.
