A wastewater treatment plant in North Clare was flooded one in every three days in the first eight months of 2024.
An Environmental Protection Agency audit found that Uisce Éireann’s sewerage treatment plant in Lahinch was not providing adequate or appropriate treatment.
Between January 1st and August 14th this year, Lahinch’s Wastewater Treatment Plant flooded on 76 dates out of 227, or 33% of days it was operating.
The EPA also noted a significant number of emissions breaches at the plant.
To discuss this further, Alan Morrissey was joined by Fianna Fáil Councillor from Lahinch, Shane Talty and water quality activist, Liam Grant.
You can listen to the full interview below
Statement from Uisce Éireann
In relation to wastewater treatment in Lahinch, a feasibility study has been completed to look at the requirements and potential options to upgrade both the Lahinch Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) and Ennistymon WWTP.
A new treatment plant to serve both the Lahinch and Ennistymon catchment is the preferred option. The project is currently at detailed design stage and will require several assessments (e.g. environmental, route and site selection, marine survey and modelling) as well as statutory approvals (planning, foreshore licence, EPA Licence review, wayleaves) and as such will take some time to complete.
As with any significant infrastructure project, construction timelines and completion dates will be subject to a range of external factors. For this reason a commencement/completion date for the upgraded wastewater treatment plant at Lahinch/Ennistymon cannot be provided at this stage. It is expected that the initial scoping and design works for the upgraded plant at Lahinch/Ennistymon will be progressed through the current investment plan as a matter of priority, with the project to be progressed further in the subsequent investment periods subject to approvals.
