Irish Water says 11 important waste water projects are either underway or set to start shortly in Donegal.
It’s after an EPA report this week found that eight schemes in Donegal are discharging raw sewage into the environment.
Irish water acknowledge they have a lot to do, but say major progress is being made.
Irish Water says since it assumed responsibility for public water services in 2014, 60% of raw sewage discharges by volume have been eliminated through targeted investment in new sewerage infrastructure, and all should be eliminated by 2025.
It’s after an EPA report yesterday found over 30 areas nationally are still releasing raw sewage into the environment because they are not connected to a treatment plant, eight of them in Donegal.
Irish Water says it is on track to end the discharge of raw sewage by in the county by the end of next year.
A map published this week shows projects completed in Bundoran, Killybegs and St Johnston, and projects currently under construction in Burtonport, Kerrykeel and Kilcar.
Projects are due to commence this year in Ramelton and Rathmullan, while projects at Coolatee, Falcarragh and Moville will start in 2023 or later.
Irish Water says it is also progressing wastewater projects in Buncrana, Carrigart, Kilmacrennan, Milford and Mountcharles.
Release in full –
Communities across Ireland continue to benefit from Irish Water’s progress in improving wastewater treatment, resulting in a cleaner environment, enhanced water quality and greater capacity to support growth and development.
The latest EPA Urban Wastewater Treatment Report for 2021 recognises the ongoing progress being made by Irish Water in upgrading Ireland’s public wastewater infrastructure while also highlighting the need for continued investment in our essential wastewater services.
Since 2014 when Irish Water assumed responsibility for public water services, 60% of raw sewage discharges by volume have been eliminated through targeted investment in new sewerage infrastructure where none existed previously, and we are on target to eliminate nearly all of the remainder by 2025.
In Donegal, investment in wastewater infrastructure in Gweedore has led to improvements in water quality, while also supporting economic growth and development.
Irish Water is on track to end the discharge of raw sewage by 2023 with the construction of new wastewater treatment plants in Kilcar, Kerrykeel and Burtonport. Irish Water are also progressing wastewater projects in the following locations across the county including: Falcarragh, Moville, Kilmacrennan, Carrigart, Buncrana, Mountcharles, Rathmullen, Milford and Ramelton.
Irish Water’s targeted programme of investment in existing wastewater infrastructure is also reaping benefits for communities around the country. The building of new treatment plants and upgrading of existing ones has led to continued improvements in the quality of receiving waters. Compliance rates with the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive remain strong at 93% of plants – up from just 81% in 2015.
As a result of this progress, the impact of urban wastewater on catchment waters has continued to reduce. 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 and we expect that, by 2027, urban wastewater will be down to seventh, which demonstrates our commitment to improve overall water quality in Ireland’s rivers, lakes and seas. This reflects the significant progress being made by Irish Water in upgrading wastewater infrastructure and optimising operations at wastewater treatment plants.
Irish Water’s Programme Manager, Paul Fallon added, “The scale of delivery of this critical infrastructure is unprecedented: last year we invested €367 million in Ireland’s wastewater – the highest ever in a single year – and we are on track to increase that further over the coming years as we strive to deliver best in class wastewater services and infrastructure for Ireland now and in the future.”
