Strategies, plans and projects
Urban Wastewater Sectoral Action Work Plan (this plan)
WAP Action Ref
UWW 11
Measure details
Plan to capture our overall approach to delivering on the urban wastewater actions listed in the Water Action Plan 2024, including summarising targets and progress at a national level.
Multiple benefits
- Water quality
- Climate change adaptation
- Climate change mitigation
- Biodiversity
- Sustainability
- Communities
- Human health
Wastewater Strategy Framework (under development)
WAP Action Ref
Over-arching measure
Measure details
National framework to capture the multifaceted aspects of managing our wastewater assets, including an understanding of strategic needs and drivers (including planning policy), an understanding of environmental priorities, risk assessment and management, control of effluent at source, whole asset lifecycle scenario testing, service resilience, climate adaptation and mitigation and biodiversity enhancement. The framework will underpin strategies and management plans in relation to wastewater. The framework, which is entering the early planning phase in 2025, will allow us to plan sustainably for the long term, which will enhance our ability to protect and restore the environment.
Multiple benefits
- Water quality
- Climate change adaptation
- Climate change mitigation
- Biodiversity
- Sustainability
- Communities
- Human health
Regional/Local Wastewater Strategies
WAP Action Ref
Over-arching measure
Measure details
Strategies aimed at identifying and delivering sustainable drainage approaches in metropolitan areas to protect human health, safeguard the environment and facilitate population growth. Examples include Dublin, Galway and Cork.
Multiple benefits
- Water quality
- Communities
- Human health
Link to more information
Sustainability Framework (under development)
WAP Action Ref
Over-arching measure
Measure details
Framework setting out our sustainability ambitions including climate action (net zero carbon by 2040), biodiversity net gain (across all new projects by 2030), circular economy approach and social sustainability comprising educating people on the value of water and diversity, inclusion and equality.
Multiple benefits
- Water quality
- Climate change adaptation
- Climate change mitigation
- Biodiversity
- Sustainability
- Communities
- Human health
Integrated Urban Drainage Plans (under development)
WAP Action Ref
Urban Runoff 8, UWW 7
Measure details
Plans to develop an understanding of how existing wastewater networks and stormwater networks operate and interact, and how they impact on the water environment, in line with the requirement for integrated urban wastewater management planning as set out in the re-cast Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive. The Water action Plan requires that 6no. pilot integrated urban drainage plans are developed by 2027. This will allow for new approaches and capabilities to be developed for improving and managing urban drainage in order to protect and restore the environment while enhancing climate resilience and biodiversity. The plans will be rolled out in larger urban areas initially. They will form a component of the Wastewater Strategy Framework. Widespread adoption of nature-based sustainable urban drainage (SUDs) in new developments and in public realm and transport projects should result in a reduction in rainfall getting into combined sewer systems and consequently also a reduction in storm water overflows.
Multiple benefits
- Water quality
- Climate change adaptation
- Climate change mitigation
- Biodiversity
- Sustainability
- Communities
- Human health
Capital Investment Plans
WAP Action Ref
Over-arching
Measure details
Uisce Éireann’s investment plans outline our proposed capital spending for each 5-year investment cycle, with a focus on prioritising the highest value outputs and outcomes, while balancing risk and compliance, deliverability and maximising value for money within the funding allocation for the 5-year cycle. We ensure that health and safety is a top priority to ensure that we meet our responsibilities as well as prioritising delivering clean safe drinking water, protecting public health and the environment in a sustainable manner and supports economic growth.
Multiple benefits
- Water quality
- Climate change adaptation
- Climate change mitigation
- Biodiversity
- Sustainability
- Communities
- Human health
Link to more information
Maintenance Strategy (under development)
WAP Action Ref
Over-arching measure
Measure details
Strategy aimed at ensuring that assets continue to achieve the required standards to minimise the impact to customers and the environment and increase the resilience of our assets.
Multiple benefits
- Water quality
- Communities
National Wastewater Sludge Management Plan
WAP Action Ref
Over-arching
Measure details
Plan to set out our nationwide standardised approach to achieving circular economy outlets for wastewater sludge (bioresources), ensuring that treated wastewater sludge is effectively managed, stored, transported and re-used in a sustainable way to safeguard public health and the environment. This includes dewatering centres and sludge hubs (bioresource centres). We have now commenced the process of reviewing and updating the NWSMP. As part of the review and update of the NWSMP, Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and Appropriate Assessment (AA) will be carried out.
Multiple benefits
- Water quality
- Climate change adaptation
- Human health
Link to more information
Biodiversity Action Plan
WAP Action Ref
Over-arching
Measure details
National programme of biodiversity enhancement measures to protect and enhance biodiversity across all Uisce Éireann assets, and to ensure that biodiversity is an integral factor in decision-making processes across Uisce Éireann. The plan includes a target to plant 250,000 new trees by 2030, with 91,000 planted by the end of 2024. The plan also includes a target to achieve biodiversity net gain in all infrastructure projects by 2030.
Multiple benefits
- Water quality
- Climate change adaptation
- Climate change mitigation
- Biodiversity
- Sustainability
- Communities
- Human health
Link to more information
Asset Management Plans and Systems (under development)
WAP Action Ref
Over-arching
Measure details
We are developing our asset management capability to enable us to consider the whole life of our assets when making decisions regarding investment, operation, maintenance and disposal/reuse of our assets. Includes coordinating delivery of all activities on our assets across their lifecycle, with a focus on continual improvement.
Multiple benefits
- Water quality
Vision 2050
WAP Action Ref
Over-arching measure
Measure details
Strategic foresight study to undertake a horizon scan where we considered possible future scenarios and imagined the future water sector that we would like to create, identified challenges and opportunities, and outlined a shared vision and desired outcomes for the sector to 2050.
Multiple benefits
- Water quality
- Climate change adaptation
- Climate change mitigation
- Biodiversity
- Sustainability
- Communities
- Human health
Link to more information
Wastewater gap analysis
WAP Action Ref
UWW 12, UWW 13
Measure details
Our wastewater gap analysis captures an overview of wastewater investment needs for above ground and below ground assets, and estimates indicative costs and timelines to deliver compliance with the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive, Water Framework Directive and wastewater discharge authorisations as well as providing for growth and maintenance requirements over several investment cycles. This information is incorporated into the Catchment Management Work Plans. The gap analysis is undertaken every two years, and was last completed in 2024.
Multiple benefits
- Water quality
Shared Waters Enhancement and Loughs Legacy (SWELL) Project
WAP Action Ref
UWW 1
Measure details
Project, in partnership with Northern Ireland Water, to improve water quality in Foyle and Carlingford Lough catchments through the development of ecosystem modelling and targeted wastewater treatment upgrades.
The project delivered two new wastewater treatment plants, decommissioned another plant, and delivered one wastewater network upgrade at sites in counties Donegal and Louth.
Multiple benefits
- Water quality
Link to more information
Killea Shared Waters Enhancement and Loughs Legacy (SWELL) project
Water Enhancement through Sustainable Treatment (WEST) Project
WAP Action Ref
UWW 2
Measure details
Project, in partnership with Northern Ireland Water, to improve water quality in the Erne, Melvin, and Donegal Bay catchments through the development of two strategies and action plans using robust catchment modelling and sustainable treatment solutions. At the heart of the project will be four wastewater treatment plant upgrades across both water utilities – with two of these in Cavan and Monaghan. Funding for the project was announced at the end of 2024, and the two projects are at detailed design stage.
Multiple benefits
- Water quality
- Climate change adaptation
- Climate change mitigation
- Biodiversity
- Sustainability
- Communities
Link to more information
Nature-based Solutions activities
WAP Action Ref
UWW 10
Measure details
Research, collaboration and project work to encourage and promote the identification of opportunities for the incorporation of integrated constructed wetlands, sludge drying reed beds, and other nature-based solutions into our wastewater assets. We currently operate a number of Integrated Constructed Wetlands (ICWs) around the country including: Dunhill in Waterford, Glaslough in Monaghan, Clonaslee in Laois and Lixnaw in Kerry. A number of further sites are undergoing feasibility assessment.
Multiple benefits
- Water quality
- Climate change adaptation
- Climate change mitigation
- Biodiversity
- Sustainability
- Communities
Link to more information
Nature Based Solutions for Wastewater Treatment Research Project
WAP Action Ref
UWW 10
Measure details
Research project, in collaboration with University of Galway and funded under the CRU Water Services Innovation Fund, aimed at improving our understanding of the interrelationships between nature-based solutions (NBS) and the environment. NBS includes Integrated Constructed Wetlands (ICWs), reed beds, pond systems, and soil percolation systems. The aim of this project is to provide evidence to support discussions on potential alternative licensing approaches, and to provide evidence to support their use in place of conventional treatment solutions. The project kicked off in November 2024.
Multiple benefits
- Water quality
- Climate change mitigation
- Biodiversity
- Sustainability
Nature-based Solutions Native Woodland Planting Projects
WAP Action Ref
UWW 10
Measure details
Multiple projects across the country to establish native woodland at our sites under woodland schemes offered by the Forest Service of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Native woodlands are a great example of nature-based solutions whereby the woodlands provide drinking water source protection, enhance biodiversity and remove carbon from the atmosphere.
Multiple benefits
- Water quality
- Climate change mitigation
- Biodiversity
- Sustainability