by Alan Jacques
TWO Limerick waste water treatment plants failed to meet primary treatment standards, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Sites in Castletroy and Kilmallock were among 38 Irish treatment plants where the treatment process did not achieve the required standard in 2013.
A spokeswoman for Limerick City and County Council explained: “Kilmallock is included in the EPA report as the results were based on discharges from the old wastewater treatment plant, which has since been replaced with a new treatment plant facility.”
“There were a number of mechanical failures and electrical breakdowns at the Castletroy treatment plant during 2013. Such incidents are not uncommon in ageing facilities such as Castletroy wastewater treatment plant, which was constructed during the early 1990s,” she commented.
Limerick City and County Council met with Irish Water during the past fortnight when the operation of all wastewater treatment facilities in Limerick, including Castletroy, was discussed.
The EPA maintain that Irish Water has to eliminate raw sewage discharges, prevent pollution of waters from inadequately treated sewage and improve the management and performance of water treatment plants.
The agency’s 2013 Urban Waste Water Report shows that significant improvement is needed in the infrastructure and management of waste water.
According to the EPA, Limerick City met with Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) and Total Suspended Solids (TSS) requirement levels for waste water treatment.
However, five of the 25 urban areas in County Limerick did not meet the directive requirement for secondary treatment and 13 of these did not meet the BOD, COD and TSS standards.
Askeaton, Athea, Foynes, Glin and Patrickswell were all without secondary treatment while Adare, Cappamore, Castletroy, Croom, Dromcollagher, Hospital, Kilmalllock, Murroe, Oola, Pallasgreen, Pallaskenry and Rathkeale all failed for quality of treatment provided.
Discharges from Dromcollagher were linked with serious pollution of the Ahavarragha Stream.
“The 38 urban centres that failed to meet the required standard placed the health of people and the environment at risk. The reasons for the failures range from a complete absence of infrastructure to treat sewage to inadequate infrastructure, poor management and operation of infrastructure,” he said.
Local authorities were responsible for the waste water works at the time this report was carried out as responsibility didn’t transfer to Irish Water until January 2014.
Irish Water welcomed the publication of the EPA report which, they said, underlined the major challenge they faced in delivering a top quality waste water infrastructure.
Jerry Grant, head of assets at Irish Water said the report outlined in stark reality the condition of the assets they had inherited and the complete lack of infrastructure across many urban centres where raw sewage was discharged directly into coastal waters.
“Irish Water has begun to deliver on many of the projects required to improve waste water treatment. We are now taking a national approach to the provision of public water services, prioritising investment where it can deliver the most urgently needed improvements at the lowest achievable cost, ensuring quality and value for our customers.
“The fact that over 170 infrastructural improvements required in EPA licences before the end of 2013 were not completed underlines the need for a change in how public water services are funded and delivered in Ireland,” he said.
