Sewage discharged onto Sandymount

A SToRM overflow outlet discharging sewage onto Sandymount Beach in south Dublin is not up to “required standards”, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Uisce Éireann was investigating reports of raw sewage overflowing onto the beach recently after a spell of heavy rain.

Local residents said “huge volumes” of sewage, including sanitary products and condoms, were deposited onto the beach.

Irish Water notified the EPA of a storm overflow at Sandymount Beach following heavy rain on May 11, and a drainage crew carried out a full clean-up on May 12.

However, the EPA said the storm overflow outlet from Ailesbury Pumping Station, which discharges onto Sandymount Strand, does not

Róisín Duffy, Orlaith Gavan and Dr Angie Brown at the launch of the Irish Heart Foundation’s ‘Before Damage is Done’ campaign.

Pic: Maxwells meet the required standards.

“It is the responsibility of Uisce Éireann to carry out all works necessary to resolve this issue and bring the overflow outlet up to the required standards,” it said.

“The EPA has advised Uisce Éireann to carry out the work needed to resolve this issue as quickly as possible.”

In its latest update to the EPA, Uisce Éireann indicated that “significant work” will be required and it is assessing the available options. These include redirecting the overflow to a larger sewer, increasing the amount of stormwater storage available and relocating the discharge outfall.

“The EPA requires Uisce Éireann to identify the best option and provide a detailed plan and timeframe to resolve this issue,” the EPA said. A spokesperson for Irish Water said the stormwater overflow at Ailesbury pumping station was built in the 1900s and “predates current building practice and current standards”.