Uisce Éireann responds to finding that Ballymore Eustace Water Treatment Plant breached discharge rules

Uisce Éireann (formerly Irish Water) has responded to a recent report that the Ballymore Eustace Water Treatment plant breached discharge rules.

The Journal reported on Sunday, December 31 last that the regulator of the UE facility in Ballymore Eustace found there to be non-compliant concentrations of chemicals, including aluminum, across a number of months in 2023.

When asked about the matter by the Leinster Leader, a UE representative said: "The Ballymore Eustace Water Treatment Plant is the largest water treatment plant in the country, supplying water to approximately 50 per cent of the population in Dublin City and the Greater Dublin Area, including Kildare.

"The plant currently produces in the region of 300 million litres of clean drinking water per day and is subject to regular audits by the Environmental Protection Agency, in line with the EU Drinking Water Regulations."

The spokesperson continued: "The chemical and physical treatment processes onsite have been optimised to improve the quality of the process waters discharged to the river Liffey.

"This is an ongoing process and the process waters discharged to the River Liffey are naturally low in nutrients and organic carbon.

"Uisce Éireann is not aware of any impacts to aquatic life as a result of this process."

'MAJOR UPGRADE'

They also said that UE is working in partnership with Dublin City Council in order to progress 'a major upgrade' to Ballymore Eustace Water Treatment Plant: "The project represents a €14 million investment by Uisce Éireann and involves a programme of works to modernise and improve the treatment processes at the plant, ensuring raw water continues to be treated to the highest standards.

"Following on from these upgrades, a further programme of upgrade works will continue at Ballymore Eustace Water Treatment Plant over the coming years to ensure the continued supply of safe drinking water to the Greater Dublin Area.

"The upgrade works will continue to progress onsite with no impact to customers."

They concluded: "For more details, please visit our dedicated webpage at Ballymore Eustace Water Treatment Plant Upgrade."

Kildare FM Radio Station has reported that Kildare County Council (which regulates the facility) has said it has highlighted the issues with UE.

The station added that the council is currently awaiting a report from UE.

A representative of the council also said that it will revert to the Leinster Leader's enquiry on the matter 'as soon as possible.'

UPDATE: Since the publication of this article, Kildare County Council has responded to the Leader.

The council said: "Kildare County Council are not the regulator of the Uisce Eireann Water Treatment Facility at Ballymore Eustace Co Kildare.

"The EPA have a role in regulating the drinking water quality at the facility under licence.

"Kildare County Council assess monitoring submissions made by Uisce Eireann in relation to discharges to the River Liffey under a planning condition.

"This Planning permission relates to a grant of permission for the upgrade of the sludge treatment plant at the facility in 2008.

"Kildare County Council have highlighted issues on foot of assessing the Uisce Eireann monitoring submissions."

"Correspondence was received in December 2023 from the Plant Manager at the Facility acknowledging these non-compliances as well as outlining measures to be implemented to ensure prevention of any future discharge parameter non-compliances occurring," the council concluded.