34 Towns Releasing Raw Sewage, Daily.

Wednesday, 3 November 2021 09:20

The EPA says this is putting our environmental and public health at risk.

34 towns and villages release raw sewage into the environment every day.

The EPA says it could take over 20 years to bring Ireland's waste water infrastructure up to standard.

Mairead Cleary reports:

"The Environmental Protection Agency says waste water must be treated to make it clean and safe, before it is released back into our waters.

It says while there has been some progress by Irish Water, the pace is still too slow.

The watchdog says it's putting our environmental and public health at risk.

12 large towns and cities failed to meet EU waste water treatment standards in 2020.

And 34 towns and villages released untreated sewage into the environment every day, because they weren't connected to treatment plants.

The EPA says Ireland must provide lots of funding for waste water infrastructure, to protect the environment - and reduce the risk of fines from the European Union. "

34 Irish towns & villages release raw sewage into the environment every day & a third of these will continue to do so after 2024. 12 large towns & cities did not meet waste water treatment standards. EPA report on Urban Waste Water Treatment in 2020 here: https://t.co/d4UrshZBhC pic.twitter.com/nNFk623euU
— EPA Ireland (@EPAIreland) November 3, 2021

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