Donegal communities are to benefit from highest ever level of wastewater infrastructure investment.
Burtonport, Buncrana, Ballybofey/Stranorlar, Coolatee, Rathmullan, Milford and Ramelton are among the areas to gain from Uisce Éireann investment in Donegal.
Uisce Éireann’s investment in Ireland’s wastewater infrastructure is benefiting communities around the country by supporting sustainable growth and development, enhancing water quality and protecting the environment.
The latest EPA Urban Wastewater Treatment Report published today, shows the progress being made in tackling long-running issues like raw sewage discharges, while also underlining the need for continued investment in our essential wastewater services.
2022 saw the highest annual investment in wastewater to date of over €450m as Uisce Éireann continues to make progress in priority areas such as locations where there is raw sewage entering the rivers, lakes and the sea, sites identified by the European Court of Justice under the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive and sites where urban wastewater is a significant pressure. As the EPA acknowledges, the building, repair and upgrading of Ireland’s wastewater treatment plants and sewer network will require a multi-billion euro investment programme over many years. Uisce Éireann is focussed on delivering the best possible service improvements, while maximising return on investment.
Uisce Éireann is also driving sustained improvement in existing wastewater treatment standards. Last year 91% of Ireland’s treatment plants were fully compliant with the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive. For those plants that are not currently achieving compliance, Uisce Éireann has a plan of action to address any deficiencies and bring them up to the appropriate standard as quickly as possible.
In Donegal, this investment by Uisce Éireann has led to improved wastewater treatment in a number of communities, including Gweedore, Letterkenny, Kilcar, and Kerrykeel. Carrigans, Killea, Lifford and Omeath communities have also benefitted from the delivery of new wastewater infrastructure as part of the Shared Waters Enhancement & Loughs Legacy (SWELL) project, a €35m EU-funded project which aimed to improve the quality of water in Carlingford Lough and Lough Foyle through the upgrade of wastewater assets on both sides of the border (as well as Warrenpoint, Newpount, Strabane and Donemana).
In 2022 works commenced on Burtonport Sewage Scheme valued at €7 million that will serve a population equivalent of 300, which equates to stopping over 160 wheelie bins of raw sewage being discharged to the sea every day.
In 2023 works commenced on a number of projects including Coolatee Sewerage Scheme which will eliminate the discharge of untreated wastewater into the Foyle and Deele Rivers; a €31 million investment in Buncrana, Ballybofey and Stranorlar Sewerage Scheme which will result in significant improvements to the wastewater network and water quality in Lough Swilly and the River Finn by eliminating stormwater overflows; as well as a €50m investment in wastewater infrastructure for Ramelton, Milford and Rathmullan, which will finally bring to an end the decades-long practice of discharging raw or poorly treated sewage into Leannan Estuary, Lough Swilly and Maggie’s Burn.
There are 28 areas around the country already benefitting today from cleaner waters and enhanced amenities due to the construction of new wastewater treatment plants where none existed previously. There are currently 11 more locations under construction. This means that over 70% of all raw sewage discharges nationwide have now been eliminated, with the majority of the remainder set to end by 2025.
In addition, new or upgraded wastewater treatment plants are planned for Falcarragh, Kilmacrennan and Carrigart, Moville, Buncrana, Fahan, Ballyliffin, Dunfanaghy Portnablagh, Muff and Mountcharles. These projects will be progressed through the current and future investment cycles, subject to approval and planning.
Brian Sheehan, Uisce Éireann’s Head of Infrastructure Delivery, said: “Ending raw sewage discharges and improving wastewater treatment for communities across the country are priorities for Uisce Éireann. We are making huge strides in addressing these issues and we are now seeing real and tangible benefits from the unprecedented level of investment in this essential infrastructure. To date over 70% of raw sewage discharges nationwide have been eliminated and we are on track to end the majority by 2025. Our targeted programme of investment in existing wastewater plants and networks is also helping to protect the environment and enhance water quality.
“The timely delivery of this infrastructure and these services is a critical component in supporting sustainable social and economic development. Last year we invested over €1bn in water and wastewater projects, and we will need to maintain this level of funding in the years to come. It will also be necessary to address existing issues in our planning and approvals system so that large scale critical infrastructure can progress within a reasonable timeframe. We will continue to work with Government and our regulators, including the EPA and CRU, to ensure we can rise to the challenge of delivering transformative wastewater services to enable communities to thrive.”
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