Compliance with licence discharge requirements

The EPA has issued over 500 wastewater discharge licences to Uisce Éireann. Each licence sets site-specific effluent quality standards designed to prevent pollution, achieve at least good status in the receiving waters and prevent any deterioration in existing status. Where necessary to protect the environment, the standards in EPA licences may be stricter and include a broader range of parameters than the minimum standards in the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive. 

In 2024 Uisce Éireann consistently complied with the licence standards at less than half (41%) of licensed sites. Non-compliances at the other sites range from occasional discharges of inadequately treated wastewater up to continuous or frequent discharges of raw or poorly treated sewage. The main causes of non-compliances were deficient treatment infrastructure and inadequate operation and maintenance of treatment plants.