Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 9 December 2015
196. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the deadline for achieving mandatory European Union quality standards for wastewater treatment; the implications for the State if they are not achieved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44321/15]
View answerThe requirements at EU level with regard to the standards for urban waste water treatment are set out in Directive 91/271/EEC. For example, secondary treatment was required by 31 December 2000 for all discharges from agglomerations of more than 15,000 population equivalents, and by 31 December 2005 for those agglomerations with population equivalents between 10,000 and 15,000. Secondary treatment was required by 31 December 2005 for all agglomerations with population equivalents greater than 2, 000 for discharges to freshwater and estuaries.
The most recent EPA report, Urban Waste Water Treatment in 2014 , shows 31 out of 174 large urban areas (i.e. population equivalents of greater than 2,000) did not comply with the effluent quality and sampling standards for secondary treatment set down in the Directive. If compliance is not addressed there is a risk of escalated infringement proceedings and fines against the State for non-compliance with the Directive.
Since 1 January 2014 Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels including the management of urban waste water collection and treatment infrastructure. In line with the Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013, Irish Water has put in place a Water Services Strategic Plan (WSSP) ; this was published in October 2015 and is available online at: http://www.water.ie/about-us/project-and-plans/future-plans/.
The WSSP specifically notes that it is an objective of Irish Water to ensure compliance with the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive and sets out target dates to achieve compliance.
Irish Water has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. They may be contacted via email to oireachtasmembers@water.ie or by telephone on 1890 578 578.
