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EPA prosecutes Irish Water (Upper Liffey Valley Regional Sewerage Scheme, D0002

Hearing Date: September 27, 2021

On 27th of September 2021, the Environmental Protection Agency prosecuted Irish Water (Upper Liffey Valley Regional Sewerage Scheme) at The Dublin Metropolitan District Court. 

 

Irish Water pleaded guilty to breaching conditions of its Waste Water Discharge Licence, D0002-01, by:

 

  1. Failing to comply with Condition 6.1 from the 14th of March 2019 to the 21st of March 2019 (inclusive), in that they failed to notify the Agency by either telephone or facsimile as soon as practicable after the occurrence of an incident involving a discharge of untreated sewage from the Newhall Pumping Station into the River Liffey commencing on or about the morning of the 14th of March 2019, being an incident (“Incident 1”) with the potential for environmental contamination of surface water.

 

  1. Failing to comply with Condition 4.8 from the 14th of March 2019 to the 21st of March 2019 (inclusive), in that they failed to take corrective action following up to three incidents involving discharges of untreated sewage from the Newhall Pumping Station into the River Liffey that occurred between the 14th of March 2019 and the 16th of March 2019, being discharges not permitted under the said licence.

 

  1. Failing to comply with Condition 6.2 from the 14th of March 2019 to the 21st of March 2019 (inclusive), in that they failed to notify Inland Fisheries Ireland as soon as practicable after up to three incidents involving the discharge of untreated sewage from the Newhall Pumping Station into the River Liffey that commenced on or about the 14th of March 2019.

 

  1. Failing to comply with Condition 4.9 from the 14th of March 2019 to the 25th of March 2019 (inclusive), in that they failed to maintain a programme for the maintenance and operation of all plant and equipment used at the Newhall Pumping Station which was sufficient to ensure that no unauthorised waste water discharges took place.

 

  1. Failing to comply with Condition 6.4, from the 16th of March 2019 and ending on the 17th of March 2019, in that they failed to immediately notify the appropriate Water Services Authority, being Leixlip Water Treatment Plant, which operates the downstream Leixlip drinking water abstraction point, of up to three incidents involving discharges of untreated sewage from the Newhall Pumping Station into the River Liffey which commenced on or about the 14th day of March 2019, being incidents with the potential for environmental contamination of surface water.

 

  1. Failing to comply with Condition 6.5, from the 14th of March 2019 and ending on the 16th of March 2019 (both dates inclusive), in that they failed to make a record of the extent and/or impact of up to three incidents involving discharges of untreated sewage from the Newhall Pumping Station into the River Liffey that occurred between the 14th of March 2019 and the 16th of March 2019.

 

Judge Halpin, having heard the evidence convicted Irish Water on Charges 1 and 2 above and imposed a fine of €3,500 on each charge.  Charges 3 to 6 above were taken into consideration.  Costs were also awarded.