THE lack of adequate sewerage treatment facilities in Glin and Foynes is responsible for the release of raw sewerage into the Shannon Estuary and this should be a source of concern for everyone.
That’s according to Munster MEP Grace O’Sullivan who told the Limerick Post that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) found that in 2021, half of Ireland’s wastewater was not treated to EU standards.
“While much of this was related to Dublin’s Ringsend wastewater treatment plant, Foynes and Glin were also noted in the report as not having adequate sewage treatment in place, and so therefore are releasing raw sewage into nearby rivers or directly into the sea,” she explained.
“Work on adequate treatment of our urban wastewater must be fast-tracked as soon as possible. I’m an avid sea swimmer, and as an Island nation we should have a closer relationship with and be taking care of our natural waters.
“There’s also a public health risk as well as an economic one for some tourist hotspots. We’ve seen some beaches being closed down in the peak of summer in recent years due to inadequate water quality,” MEP O’Sullivan concluded.
Irish Water have stated that they plan for all sewage outflows to be treated by 2025 at the latest, with sewage from Foynes and Glin to be treated by then.
