The Sustainable Water Network (SWAN), representing 26 of Ireland’s leading environmental NGOs, has called for more urgent action from the Government and Uisce Eireann following publication of EPA’s Urban Wastewater Treatment in 2025 Report [1]. The report highlights operational failures that persist due to inadequate management and delays in infrastructural delivery, posing serious risks to water quality, public health, and biodiversity.
Despite welcome progress in raw sewage discharges, the report concludes that 55% of Uisce Éireann’s 505 sewage treatment plants have non-compliant discharges polluting our rivers, lakes, and seas. Importantly, they found that half of these failures were avoidable, caused by poor plant operation, equipment breakdowns, and inadequate maintenance, training, or procedures — issues that do not require major investment.
The EPA has taken thirty-five successful prosecutions against Uisce Éireann for breaches of wastewater discharge authorisations, including seven prosecutions during the past year.
Dr. Puneeta Sreenivas, Freshwater Policy Officer, said
“Around half of the treatment plants breaching EPA standards are failing because of inadequate operation and maintenance. Why are our communities, our waters and our wildlife still bearing the consequences of preventable pollution? Maintaining equipment, training staff and operating treatment plants properly are basic responsibilities.
“We know new infrastructure takes time. But at 26 of the 35 areas which are prioritised because sewage is the main pressure on local waters improvements have not even started and remain years from completion. That means there are areas where we have a clear opportunity to help rivers, lakes and coastal water recover, but instead we’re going to see continued pollution of those waters instead.
“The consequences for wildlife are especially stark. At four of the nine priority areas where improvements are needed to protect freshwater pearl mussels, construction is not due to start until 2030. Freshwater Pearl Mussels are one of our most endangered species, and also one of our most long lived, some still living in Irish waters would be older than the Irish Free State. They require the cleanest of water to thrive. How does leaving a critically endangered species under continued threat reflect the urgency this demands?”
“The Government’s commitments to healthy waters must be matched by action. Uisce Éireann must tackle preventable failures now through proper staff training and preventative maintenance, alongside much faster delivery of essential upgrades. We need clear plans with firm deadlines, and clear accountability when they are missed. Communities need to see the results in cleaner water and recovering wildlife.”
[1] Urban Wastewater Treatment in 2025 (EPA 2026)
