A North Clare wastewater treatment plant was flooded one in every three days in the first eight months of the year.
An audit carried out by the Environmental Protection Agency has found that Uisce Éireann’s sewerage plant in Lahinch is not providing adequate or appropriate treatment as a result.
In total, between January 1st and August 14th, Lahinch’s Wastewater Treatment Plant flooded on 76 dates out of 227, or 33% of days it was operating.
The facility was flooded for 22 days in February, 20 in March, 17 in January, 9 in April, 3 days in July and August and 2 in June.
The EPA also noted a number of emission’s breaches at the plant for Ammonia, suspended solids and phosphorous.
The environmental watchdog has stated, as a result of the frequent flooding, the WWTP cannot provide adequate and appropriate treatment.
Uisce Éireann has subsequently been ordered to prioritise the upgrade of the Lahinch WWTP in order to ensure that the Inagh estuary and bathing water quality is not adversely affected from its discharges.
Uisce Éireann has stated that the upgrade project is included under its Capital Investment Programme with a completion
expectation date of 2030.
However, it was noted during the site visit that it is unlikely that this date will be achieved.
The wastewater treatment capacity register states that there is capacity (green status) at the Lahinch WWTP for new connections, which would allow for housing and business developments.
But according to the EPA, the present state of this plant indicates that it is a less than satisfactory state to accommodate this.
