We are blessed by the fact that, unlike water, sewage doesn't fall from the sky. Its treatment, however, has suffered the same neglect by local authorities as drinking water services, thereby creating a vicious cycle. Water polluted by municipal sewage, by septic tanks and bad farming practices threatens public health by way of E.coli and cryptosporidium infections and its treatment will require large-scale investment. The extent of the problem has been exposed by the Environment Protection Agency which found that nearly one-third of secondary sewage treatment plants fail to meet EU standards while raw sewage is being discharged in 44 areas.
Irish Water has estimated it will cost a minimum of €2 billion over the next six years to make sewage/wastewater systems fit for purpose. That will be in addition to its investment in drinking water purification plants, the removal of lead pipes and an upgrading of the service network. It is clear that the reduced level of water charges announced by the Government will be incapable of funding these dual investments in the short term. So money will have to be raised on the international market.
Before that happens and complementary, large-scale engineering projects are undertaken, however, priority should be given to anti-pollution measures. This is a two-way street and savings can be made if the causes of poor water quality are tackled before expensive engineering efforts are undertaken to deal with its effects. A cleansing of water supply sources, involving public and private schemes, would go a long way in that regard. An estimated 20,000 homes are on “boil water” notices in Roscommon and elsewhere because human and animal faeces have polluted their drinking water.
Five new treatment plants are being constructed. But pollution continues from both urban and rural sources. A comprehensive clean water package that addresses unacceptable farming practices, as well as upgrading septic tanks and local authority sewage plants, is required.