Newport is one of the sixteen towns and villages nationally discharging raw sewage in mid-2024, according to the latest EPA report.

The Urban Wastewater Treatment in 2023 report, released today, highlights progress in wastewater treatment countrywide, including a 45 per cent reduction in the number of towns and villages discharging raw sewage, since the start of 2023.

However it states , that wastewater treatment at many areas is not good enough to prevent wastewater discharges from impacting the quality of rivers, estuaries, lakes and coastal waters.

 In the case of Newport the sewage is flowing directly into the bay.

Based on Uisce Éireann estimates, the report says it could take over two decades to address the problems and will require substantial investment.

Midwest News contacted Uisce Eireann today for a spokesperson in an attempt to get an answer as to when a long promised new sewerage treatment plant for Newport will be delivered, however, no spokesperson is available.

Independent MEP for this region Cieran Mullooly says he has asked the same question at European level – having witnessed the Newport situation first hand recently.

He spoke to Midwest News Editor Teresa O’Malley....