EW-age… Am I right? Huh?
A new report by the Environmental Protection Agency has revealed that raw sewage is being discharged in 43 areas around the country and 29 towns are currently not complying with EU standards.
The report by the EPA about Urban Waste Water Treatment in 2015 was released on Thursday and it describes a litany of deficiencies with the treatment of wastewater in Ireland.
Worryingly, the report revealed that untreated wastewater was being dumped into public waterways in 43 areas around the country including including Rush and Howth in Dublin, An Spideál and An Cheathrú Rua in Galway, Kilmore Quay in Wexford, and 21 locations altogether in Donegal and Cork.
Overall, 29 towns and cities in ireland are failing to comply with EU standards on dealing with wastewater, the deadline of which was 10 years ago… so we assume they should have it sorted any day now, right?
The difficulties emerge due to the lack of capital funding which is insufficient to deal with the many deficiencies in infrastructure, with wastewater treatment plant delivery being delayed by an average of two years in many places.
EPA programme manager David Flynn has said that a dramatic increase in funding needs to be allocated, with €100 million set aside for wastewater infrastructure.
Mr Flynn said: “EPA analysis has found that better operational practices should resolve issues at one fifth of poorly-performing plants.
“Irish Water needs to improve the performance of these plants to get the most from the existing infrastructure.”
The following 29 towns are not complying with mandatory EU waste water treatment standards last year:
Donegal: Lifford, Bundoran, Killybegs, and Convoy.
Leitrim: Drumshanbo
Sligo: Ballymote
Galway: Clifden and Mountbellew
Clare: Lahinch, Shannon and Ennistymon
Offaly: Birr
Limerick: Hospital and Dromcollogher
Laois: Portarlington
Meath: Stamullen
Louth: Blackrock and Ardee
Dublin: Ringsend
Wexford: Enniscorthy and Courtown-Gorey
Wicklow: Arklow
Carlow: Tullow
Cork: Cork City, Youghal, Carrigtwohill, Cobh, Passage Monkstown and Ringaskiddy-Crosshaven- Carrigaline.
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