Volume of raw sewage discharges halved, but many wastewater plants still poorly managed

Date released: October 08, 2025

• Wastewater discharged from 59 per cent of Ireland’s existing treatment plants failed to consistently meet standards set in EPA licences to prevent pollution.
• Nearly half of these failures are due to poor operational management at existing treatment plants.
• Delays by Uisce Éireann in delivering improved infrastructure are prolonging risks to water quality.
• EPA will continue to take enforcement action to bring existing wastewater treatment plants up to standard.

9th October 2025: The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Urban Wastewater Treatment in 2024 report, released today, shows that investment at priority areas highlighted by the EPA is delivering improvements with the volume of raw sewage discharged daily halving since early 2024. However, wastewater discharges continue to harm water quality in rivers, estuaries, lakes and coastal waters.
EPA licences set out the treatment standards necessary to prevent pollution and protect the environment. EPA assessment of wastewater discharges in this report highlights that over half (59 per cent) of licensed treatment plants fail to consistently meet these standards. Failures range from occasional, short-term breaches to persistent discharges of poorly treated sewage. The main causes are inadequate infrastructure and poor operation and maintenance of treatment plants.

Operation and maintenance issues can and must be resolved as a matter of urgency. Addressing infrastructural deficits is a longer-term challenge that requires substantial and sustained investment. As it will take many years to complete all infrastructural upgrades, Uisce Éireann must give priority to the areas where improvements are most needed and will bring the greatest benefits. The EPA has identified 78 priority areas for improvements. Uisce Éireann has not yet started the works needed at half of these.

Launching the report, Pat Byrne, Director of the EPA’s Office of Radiation Protection and Environmental Monitoring said:

“Targeting improvements at priority areas identified by the EPA is delivering environmental benefits. The new treatment plants built to stop discharges of raw sewage from areas such as Arklow and Kilrush are clear examples of this progress. However, delays in designing and delivering infrastructural upgrades required at many more areas are prolonging negative impacts on water quality and the wider environment. Uisce Éireann must accelerate the pace of delivery of essential upgrades at priority areas to ensure cleaner rivers, estuaries, lakes and coastal waters and support a healthier environment for all.”

Treatment at fourteen large towns and cities failed to meet basic, European wide standards set in the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive. Six of these met the standards in 2023, highlighting the need for Uisce Éireann to take action to prevent previously compliant treatment plants slipping into non-compliance.

Regarding the operation and maintenance of treatment plants, Noel Byrne, EPA Programme Manager, said:

“Too many wastewater treatment plants are failing to meet licence standards due to poor management and maintenance practices. This is simply not good enough. When treatment plants break down or are not managed properly, our environment pays the price. The EPA has prosecuted Uisce Éireann on 28 occasions for failing to treat wastewater properly. Poor operational performance will not be tolerated by the EPA. Uisce Éireann must take immediate action to improve the operation and management of treatment plants and implement effective maintenance programmes to prevent equipment breakdowns.”

The Urban Wastewater Treatment in 2024 report and the list of priority areas – including details of the environmental issues at each location and Uisce Éireann’s plans to address them – are available on the EPA website.

Further information: Emily Williamson, EPA Media Relations Office 053-9170770 (24 hours) or media@epa.ie

Notes to Editor

Environmental priorities

Wastewater treatment in Ireland has not kept pace with the needs of our growing population. Significant and sustained investment will be required over many years to upgrade all deficient treatment systems and build resilience for the future. As not all issues can be resolved in the short term, it is essential that Uisce Éireann directs resources where they are needed most and will have the greatest benefits. The EPA has identified the following as priority areas for improvements:

• 15 towns and villages that discharge raw sewage daily (see map 1). This is down from 19 areas at the beginning of 2024 and is expected to decrease to 11 by the end of 2025.
• 14 large towns and cities where wastewater treatment failed to meet European Union standards set to protect the environment (see map 2). Nearly half of these had complied in 2023, highlighting the need to maintain treatment systems in optimum condition and stop compliant sites from becoming non-compliant.
• 34 priority areas where wastewater discharges are adversely impacting the quality of rivers, estuaries, lakes and coastal waters. Uisce Éireann has not given sufficient priority to designing and then delivering improvements needed at most (27) of these areas and this is prolonging impacts on water quality.
• Two sewer networks where upgrades are necessary to prevent sewage overflows near beaches with poor bathing water quality in 2024. Upgrade works at one of these are due for completion in 2025.
• 10 towns and villages where wastewater treatment must improve to protect critically endangered freshwater pearl mussels. Uisce Éireann has made little progress advancing the works needed at over half of these locations.
• Five coastal towns and villages where upgrades are needed to protect waters designated to support the life and growth of shellfish. Uisce Éireann must identify the scope of improvements required and deliver these in a timely manner.
• Six large urban areas where sewer networks must be upgraded to protect the environment and address a 2019 judgement from the Court of Justice of the European Union. Upgrades are completed or nearing completion at four of these.