Ireland's environmental watchdog has warned the equivalent of three Olympic-size swimming pools of untreated raw sewage are flowing into Ireland's water systems every day.
The Environmental Protection Agency raised the concern in a detailed report which has criticised Uisce Éireann.
The EPA said over half of Ireland's wastewater discharges are not meeting EU standards to protect the environment.
Waterford Green Party TD Marc O'Cathasaigh says it's an alarming report.
"It is shocking that we are still not reaching the standards of the urban wastewater treatment directive, which we are supposed to have been complying with for the past 30 years. Raw sewage from the equivalent of 54,000 people is still being discharged in 26 towns and villages because these areas are not connected to treatment plants. The factoid that jumps out from the report is that the volume of raw sewage discharged could fill three Olympic-size swimming pools a day. That is not a place I would necessarily like to swim."
"We also have to acknowledge that many so-called "primary" treatment plants are not living up to their name. In fact, the EPA states that over half of Ireland's wastewater discharges are not meeting EU standards for protecting the environment. If the Minister doubts that, he can come down to Bunmahon in Waterford where, mar dhea, we have a primary treatment plant that is supposedly treating the sewage. If he were to check the outlet pipe there, he would not find it a pleasant experience. It is certainly not doing the job it needs to do."
Raising the issue in the Dail, Deputy O'Cathasaigh said water treatment needs to be addressed with more urgency.
"The report also identifies an issue with stormwater. Unfortunately, storm-type weather will become more prevalent and more common. At the end of 2022, Uisce Éireann had assessed 1,735 of its stormwater overflow structures. There were no assessments completed during 2022. I do not know the reason for that. Over 400 of the overflows assessed did not meet the national standards and require improvement. We could point to Blackrock in Dublin if we were looking for an example of a place that is regularly overwhelmed by storm flow. I would not have to travel outside of Tramore. In fact, at the bottom of my road, the inadequate treatment of stormwater often results in an overflow that discharges directly beside the wall of the Tramore pier. It is not a pleasant sight."
"The EPA report identifies key priorities and challenges. We have to comply with EU treatment standards. We have to eliminate raw sewage discharges. It is amazing, in this day and age, that I need to utter such a sentence. We must improve our collecting systems, that is, sewers, prevent pollution of our inland and coastal waters, and protect vulnerable habitats."
