EPA criticise slow progress in upgrading Mayo treatment plant

The discharge of raw sewage into the sea from a west Mayo town was highlighted in an EPA report which criticised the slow progress in upgrading treatment plants.

Newport was one of 16 towns and villages across Ireland highlighted in the EPA Urban Wastewater Treatment report where raw sewage discharges daily because their public sewers were not connected to treatment plants.

Raw sewage from the plant in Newport continues to flow into Clew Bay and according to the EPA report is not expected to be upgraded by Uisce Éireann until 2030. Last year it was anticipated that the upgrade would be completed in 2028 but the EPA were informed in June that it will be 2030 before this will take place.

In the report the EPA criticised the slow delivery of projects and called on Uisce Éireann to 'shorten this timeline and accelerate the delivery of improvements needed' to ensure that wastewater treatment plants including at Newport are brought up to standard.

“Although Uisce Éireann is making progress, treatment at many areas is still not as good as it needs to be and wastewater discharges are impacting water quality in rivers, estuaries, lakes and coastal waters. Over half of licensed treatment plants discharge wastewater that does not always meet the standards set in wastewater discharge licences to protect the environment.

“Wastewater discharge authorisations issued by the EPA specify the standards necessary for safe and reliable wastewater services. Uisce Éireann must ensure discharges from all treatment plants consistently meet these standards and must bring all storm water overflows up to standard. Based on Uisce Éireann’s estimates it will take over two decades to achieve this. Uisce Éireann must shorten this timeline and accelerate the delivery of improvements needed to meet the necessary standards,” the report stated.

The discharge of raw sewage from the Newport plant into Clew Bay was first highlighted in The Mayo News by the late Neill O'Neill in 2016. In correspondence to local councillor Brendan Mulroy in February, Uisce Éireann stated that the delivery of a treatment plant for Newport is a priority and they were working to deliver the project as quickly as possible.

Independent Ireland councillor and General Election candidate, Chris Maxwell along with party MEP Ciarán Mullooly recently met Newport business leaders regarding the situation and they were informed the slow response by Uisce Éireann and the relevant authorities has been a source of frustration.

“This is totally unacceptable for the people of Newport,” Cllr Maxwell said. “This pollution has been ongoing since at least the 1960s, when the town’s sewer system was designed with inadequate capacity to properly treat wastewater. Instead of having modern sewage treatment facilities, the current system often bypasses proper treatment, discharging raw sewage into Clew Bay. This untreated effluent flows directly into the Atlantic Ocean, where it contaminates local waters, poses health risks, and has a detrimental impact on the marine ecosystem.”

In response to the EPA report, Uisce Éireann stated that it 'acknowledges and supports the EPA’s comments that wastewater infrastructure will require significant and sustained national investment in the years to come to bring all treatment systems up to the necessary standards'.

Michael Tinsley, Uisce Éireann’s Senior Wastewater Delivery Manager commented: “Our once-in-a-generation plan to eliminate raw sewage discharges is on track to bring what can only be described as a life-changing improvement to communities around Ireland. Cleaner waters, greater capacity for development and an enhanced environment are just some of the benefits these projects have delivered. We look forward to continuing the excellent progress being made to date, while acknowledging that delays remain in some areas, particularly in relation to legal challenges to planning and other consents, which are largely outside Uisce Éireann’s control.”