EPA orders Irish Water to start repair work on Waste Water Treatment Plant
“Finally we have light at the end of the tunnel” – O’Dowd
“Shockingly, Uisce Eireann wanted until 2028 to resolve the issue” – Nash
For many years the state-owned water utility company Irish Water has failed to deal with the stink emanating from the Drogheda Waste Water Treatment Plant on the Marsh Road.
Over the years there have been denials, investigations and all manner of obfuscation but very little by way of action to solve the odour problem which, with the ever increasing number of new homes being built locally, can only get worse unless the necessary work is carried out.
In a move that has been welcomed by local TDs Fergus O’Dowd and Ged Nash, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued the company with a statutory directive instructing them to install covers on settlement tanks at the plant and that work must begin no later than September 30th next year.
Deputy O’Dowd said that Irish Water has “continually failed the people of Drogheda” by not adequately managing the horrendous odours.
“This is a very welcome move from the EPA ,it will ensure Irish Water are held to account and deliver appropriate and long overdue measures to address the ongoing stench despite the cost” he said.
“Irish Water originally indicated that the works would commence in 2028 which was a complete and utter insult to the people of Drogheda who have had to put up with this farce for years.”
“Finally we have light at the end of the tunnel which I hope will finally bring a resolution to this debacle.”
Deputy Nash praised the EPA for acting swiftly using its Section 63 powers to mandate Uisce Eireann to address the problem.
“Shockingly, Uisce Eireann wanted until 2028 to resolve the issue but the EPA insisted on a tighter timeframe for what is a multi-million euro project” the Labour Deputy said.
“Ultimately, the EPA secured a commitment from Uisce Eireann to have the work completed by the end of 2025 but even that timeline leaves neighbours dealing with these nasty odours for (another) two-and-a-half years.”
“While residents face a long wait for the offending tanks to be covered and odour-controlled, the EPA has insisted that Uisce Eireann take some shorter-term mitigation measures known as odour suppressant dosing, to reduce septicity and the risk of odours in wastewater in the uncovered tanks.”
“While I welcome the EPA’s determined action on this issue, the timeframe for the delivery of the solution by Uisce Eireann is still unacceptably long. I would call on the utility to ensure that this necessary work is carried out as soon as possible and ahead of schedule.
“Uisce Eireann needs to be a better neighbour to the people of Drogheda who live close to this plant. This is a serious quality of life issue for them and it needs to be addressed without further delay.”
