Irish Water admits it may have underestimated the scale of the upgrades required to treat wastewater here in Clare.
It’s been revealed that planned works to upgrade infrastructure have been delayed in five Clare towns and villages, where raw sewage is released into the environment each day.
In reports dating back to 2015, Irish Water had indicated that wastewater solutions would be constructed by now in Ballyvaughan, Liscannor, Clarecastle, Kilkee and Kilrush.
But today, as the EPA publishes its latest report on urban water quality, all five locations are again listed as being among 35 areas in Ireland where untreated wastewater is being pumped in to waters.
The report also says says it will now be 2022 before treatment solutions are in place in Ballyvaughan, Clarecastle, Kilrush and Liscannor – with Kilkee not expected to see a new facility opened until 2023.
Senior Inspector with the EPA, Noel Byrne, says the utility now needs to address these delays in Clare as a matter of priority.
Irish Water insists claims ‘real and tangible’ progress continues to be made in this issue, despite admitting ongoing work has been slower than anticipated, partly as a result of the pandemic.
Infrastructure Programme Manager with Irish Water, Caroline O Reilly, has expressed confidence that the latest target dates will be met.
She says equipping these towns and villages with high standard wastewater infrastructure is no easy task.
