Four urban areas in Wicklow have been included in a report showing that better wastewater management is needed to improve environmental conditions.
The report, undertaken by the Environmental Protection Agency, shows that shortcomings in Arklow, Avoca, Kilcoole and Kilpedder pose risks to both the environment and public health.
Released today, Urban Waste Water Treatment in 2016 highlights the need for significant funding across the country to collect and treat wastewater effectively. The report found that treatment is inadequate in many areas around Ireland.
The four areas above were included in the 148 areas around Ireland where improvements are needed to resolve environmental priorities.
Arklow was included in the 50 large urban areas that failed to meet the EU’s legally binding standards for the collection, treatment and discharge of sewerage.
Kilcoole and Kilpedder were included in the 59 areas where wastewater discharges are identified as the sole pressure on water bodies at risk of not meeting environmental objectives.
Commenting on the report, Mr Darragh Page, Programme Manager of the EPA’s Office of Environmental Enforcement, said: “Ireland’s environment is at risk because wastewater is not treated to the necessary standards, even though the final deadline to meet these standards was 2005. New or upgraded treatment systems are required in some areas. In other areas, there is already sufficient treatment capacity in place, but the management of the treatment systems needs to improve.”
The full report is available here.
