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A new Environmental Protection Agency survey finds eleven Irish towns and villages still discharge raw sewage each day, and warns that more than half of the country’s wastewater treatment plants pose a risk of pollution. The EPA says many failures stem from poor operation and maintenance, and that essential upgrades are not happening quickly enough.
What the EPA found
The agency’s latest report shows the number of places releasing untreated sewage every day has fallen from 29 at the start of 2023 to 11. Despite that progress, inspectors continue to record operational shortcomings across the network.
Raw sewage still discharged daily from 11 communities across Ireland
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The EPA said these shortcomings include inadequate maintenance and poor operational practices, which result in wastewater being discharged without proper treatment and have an adverse effect on water quality. The watchdog added that many of the identified failures could have been prevented.
Towns and villages still discharging raw sewage
Public sewers serving these communities are not yet connected to a wastewater treatment plant, the EPA said. Uisce Eireann provided target dates for planned fixes.
| Town / village | County | Target fix |
|---|---|---|
| Howth (Doldrum Bay) | Dublin | 2027 |
| Avoca | Wicklow | 2027 |
| Ballyvaughan | Clare | 2027 |
| Kilkee | Clare | 2027 |
| Foynes | Limerick | 2028 |
| Glin | Limerick | 2028 |
| Roundstone | Galway | 2029 |
| Carraroe (An Cheathru Rua) | Galway | 2030 |
| Newport | Mayo | 2030 |
| Falcarragh (An Fal Carrach) | Donegal | 2030 |
| Moville | Donegal | 2030 |
Note: Target dates supplied by Uisce Eireann to the EPA. Public sewers in these areas are not yet connected to a treatment plant.
Response from Irish Water
Irish Water said it has either completed new wastewater infrastructure or has construction underway in 41 towns and villages where raw sewage was a problem. The utility reported an investment of €454 million in wastewater services last year.
It also confirmed current projects include treatment plants at Ballyvaughan and Avoca, both scheduled for completion in 2027.
Why this matters
Untreated discharges can damage local waterways and ecosystems. The EPA’s figures show progress since early 2023, but also underline that operational standards and faster delivery of upgrades are still required to resolve persistent pollution risks.
