Irish Republic launches plan to end raw sewage discharges

The elimination of virtually all discharges of raw sewage to receiving waters from Irish Water’s wastewater infrastructure should be achieved during the lifetime of the republic’s latest draft river basin management plan, just published.

This blueprint, which covers the period from 2022 to 2027, includes measures to curb farm waste, particularly in respect of nitrate pollution. A new “ innovative” approach to drinking water source protection, is promised.

The latest data from the country’s green regulator indicates that 47 per cent of surface waters (rivers, lakes, estuarine waters) have an ‘unsatisfactory’ ecological status.

Irish Water expects to invest approximately €1.022 billion in upgraded or new wastewater treatment plants and ten collection networks up to 2024.