Uisce Éireann delays expose Clare as pollution blackspot

CLARE has been unfairly exposed as one of the worst counties for wastewater pollution because of Uisce Éireann’s failure to deliver essential upgrades to treatment plants in four of its top tourism destinations.

Responding to a critical report from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Clare Fine Gael General Election candidate Leonora Carey said that delays in dealing with wastewater discharges had caused significant damage to rivers, estuaries, lakes and coastal waters around the county.

“The EPA’s Urban Wastewater Treatment report includes Ballyvaughan and Kilkee among 16 towns and villages where raw sewage is discharged daily because their public sewers are not connected to treatment plants.

According to the EPA report, Lahinch and Ballina/Killaloe were two of only ten areas throughout the country that failed EU treatment standards in 2023.

The report also states that Kilmihil is among 34 priority areas where improvements are needed to prevent wastewater discharges.

The agency also highlighted weaknesses in the 25,000km of underground sewage pipes and said more than 400 storm water overflows were not up to standard.

“In nearly half of those cases Uisce Éireann has extended the treatment date by up to five years and does not plan to start working on a quarter of them until at least 2030,” Ms Carey explained.

“Uisce Éireann must shorten the timeline and accelerate the improvements that are so badly needed.

“Untreated and poorly treated wastewater can be contaminated with bacteria and viruses that make people sick. It can also harm freshwater and marine habitats with long-term impacts on plant, fish, insect and animal life.

“The EPA has identified 73 plants as top priority for its works list, but Uisce Éireann has not yet started upgrade works at half of these.

“Uisce Éireann’s slow progress in delivering solutions at waters most affected by discharges means pollution is allowed continue.

“These delays are difficult to explain as the Government is providing Uisce Éireann with a sustained and significant level of investment. More than €2.7 billion is being provided to Uisce Éireann to meet the cost of water services in 2025 and the taxpayer has every right to expect a better outcome,” Ms Carey declared.