EPA Prosecutes Uisce Éireann (Midleton) (D0056-01)
Hearing Date: June 08, 2026
On 8th June 2026 the Environmental Protection Agency prosecuted Uisce Éireann, Midleton, County Cork at Dublin Metropolitan District Court.
Uisce Éireann pleaded guilty to breaches of conditions of its Waste Water Discharge Licence - D0056-01.
Judge Halpin convicted Uisce Éireann on the following charges and imposed a fine of €1,000 on each charge.
- Failing on or about the 7th of August 2024 to comply with the provisions of Condition 3.2, in that one or more specified discharges from the waste water works exceeded the emission limit value for Faecal Coliforms as set out in Schedule A: Discharges of the said Licence.
- Failing on or about the 11th of November 2024 to comply with the provisions of Condition 3.2, in that one or more specified discharges from the waste water works exceeded the emission limit value for Faecal Coliforms as set out in Schedule A: Discharges of the said Licence.
- Failing on or about the 14th of February 2025 to comply with the provisions of Condition 3.2, in that one or more specified discharges from the waste water works exceeded the emission limit value for Faecal Coliforms as set out in Schedule A: Discharges of the said Licence.
- Failing on or about the following dates:
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- 30th of April 2024
- 26th of May 2024
- 2nd of June 2024
- 30th of September 2024
- 6th of October 2024
- 24th of November 2024
- 24th of December 2024
to comply with the provisions of Condition 3.2, in that they exceeded the control limit value for storm water overflows from SW03 MIDL as set out in A.4. Storm Water Overflows of the said Licence.
- Failing on or about the following dates:
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- 7th of January 2025
- 24th of February 2025
- 1st of March 2025
- 19th of April 2025
- 1st of May 2025
to comply with the provisions of Condition 3.2, in that they exceeded the control limit value for storm water overflows from SW03 MIDL as set out in A.4. Storm Water Overflows of the said Licence.
The following charges were taken into account by Judge Halpin:
- Failing on or about the 5th of September 2025 to comply with the provisions of Condition 3.2, in that one or more specified discharges from the waste water works exceeded the emission limit value for Faecal Coliforms as set out in Schedule A: Discharges of the said Licence.
- Failing on or about the 12th of November 2024 to comply with the provisions of Condition 6.1, in that they failed to notify the Agency, as soon as practicable following an incident, namely defects with the UV disinfection system which occurred on the 6th of November 2024.
- Failing on or about the 6th of March 2025 to comply with the provisions of Condition 4.8, in that they failed to take corrective action as soon as practicable, namely ensuring the UV disinfection system was operating correctly following an incident, namely the poor operational condition of the UV disinfection system on 6th November 2024.
- Failing on or about the 19th of April 2025 to comply with the provisions of Condition 3.2, in that they exceeded the control limit value for storm water overflows from SW04 MIDL as set out in A.4. Storm Water Overflows of the said Licence.
Agency costs were also agreed.