Irish Water unveils 25-year strategy for sludge as EU mulls ban on its use in agriculture

Irish Water has focused its recently published 25-year sludge management strategy on future sludge use being targeted at non-agricultural and crops for animal feed and away from agricultural use.

The strategy publication comes as the European Union is reviewing its chief piece of legislation on sludge use, the Sewage Sludge Directive with a total ban on the use of sludge on land as one of its options as well as more stringent standards.

In the strategy document Irish Water said it planned a feasibility study to look at alternative outlets for sludge reuse "to reduce the risks associated with depending on a single outlet for wastewater sludge" Currently 98 per cent of Ireland's treated wastewater sludge is reused in agriculture.