Roles and responsibilities in waste water

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the environmental regulator of Uisce Éireann. We issue and enforce authorisations for waste water discharges.  There are approximately 1,100 authorisations nationally. 

Uisce Éireann is responsible for the collection, treatment and discharge of urban waste water in Ireland. If you wish to contact Uisce Éireann with regards to a waste water treatment plant or sewer network, please find their contact details on water.ie

You can find out more information regarding a specific authorisation by going to the waste water licence/permit section.

The Commission for Regulation of Utilities is the economic regulator responsible for ensuring that Uisce Éireann is spending its money properly to improve water services.  If you wish to contact CRU with regards to Uisce Éireann please find details on the CRU webpage

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Do you want to know more about septic tanks and other domestic waste water treatment systems?

Waste water is the polluted form of water generated from rainwater runoff and human activities.  Browse through our environment and you section to read more about domestic waste water.

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Environmental Data Exchange Network (EDEN)

EDEN is the EPA's online web portal for Local Authorities and licensees to communicate with the EPA on numerous applications.

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Latest publications in Waste water

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Urban Waste Water Treatment in 2022

Urban waste water treatment in Ireland during 2022

This report provides an overview of urban waste water treatment in Ireland during 2022. It identifies the priority issues that Uisce Éireann must address to protect our environment from the harmful effects of waste water discharges

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2021 Code of Practice for Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems

This publication will assist authorities, developers, system manufacturers, system designers, installers, and operators to deal with various systems.

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Domestic Waste Water Treatment System Inspections 2022

Domestic waste water treatment systems (DWWTS) are used by householders to treat sewage.

This report provides information regarding the implementation of the National Inspection Plan for domestic waste water treatment systems in 2022

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Latest News and Press Releases

in: Wastewater
Uisce Éireann must use its new investment plan to end pollution of our rivers and coastal waters from waste water

Date released: October 25, 2023

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) report Urban Waste Water Treatment in 2022, released today, shows that Uisce Éireann has made progress in stopping discharges of raw sewage over the past year, with the connection of six villages to new treatment plants in 2022.

Fixing faulty septic tanks is taking too long, says EPA

Date released: June 27, 2023

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today released the report on Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems Inspections in 2022. The EPA examined the 1,143 inspections of domestic waste water treatment systems completed by local authorities in 2022.

Poorly treated sewage continues to harm the quality of our rivers, lakes and coastal waters, says EPA.

Date released: October 19, 2022

The EPA report on Urban Waste Water Treatment in 2021, released today, shows that investment in waste water infrastructure is delivering improvements to priority areas identified by the EPA, but treatment at many areas is still not as good as it needs to be.