asked the Minister for the Environment whether standards have been set for sewage effluent or receiving waters under section 26 of the Water Pollution Act, 1977; and if he will give details of those standards.
Written Answers. - Sewerage Schemes Monitoring.
58.
No such standards have yet been set. My Department are, however, examining data on the performance of sewerage schemes and the monitoring of effluents and receiving waters and I will be considering the question of setting standards for discharges and/or receiving waters when this work has been completed. In the meantime, I have asked local authorities to give special attention to the operation, management and maintenance of sewage treatment plants and to review the situation at such plants regularly to ensure that the effluent discharged does not adversely affect the quality of receiving waters.