EPA report finds Moville and Falcarragh still discharging raw sewage

Moville and Falcarragh are the only two towns in Donegal still releasing raw sewage into the sea, according to the Environmental Protection Agency’s latest Urban Wastewater Treatment in 2025 report.

The EPA identified these towns as part of a group of thirteen towns and cities across Ireland that failed to meet European Union environmental standards. The report highlighted delayed responses to equipment failures, noting that more than 9 million litres of untreated sewage were discharged from Ballybofey‑Stranorlar over a six‑day period in 2025.

Investment and ongoing challenges

EPA Director Pat Byrne said new treatment plants are delivering benefits for communities such as Ramelton, Rathmullan and Milford, but inspections continue to reveal poor operational practices and inadequate maintenance, leading to untreated discharges.

Uisce Éireann responded that €50 million has been spent on the Tirroddy development, a modern centralised system serving Ramelton, Milford and Rathmullan, which ended raw sewage discharges at those sites in 2025. Further infrastructure is nearing completion in Kilmacrennan, Carrigart and Mountcharles, and a €31 million upgrade for the Ballybofey‑Stranorlar network and Buncrana is slated for early 2027.

Uisce Éireann’s Wastewater Compliance Senior Manager Niall Horgan said the progress shows what sustained investment can achieve, but acknowledged more work remains.

Source: Donegal Daily. Photo: 逐光 创梦 / Pexels.