An EPA report highlights areas in Kerry that require action by Uisce Éireann.
The Urban Waste Water Treatment in 2022 report was released this morning.
It notes less than half of waste water in Ireland is treated to European standards, with huge issues recorded in Dublin and Cork; no areas in Kerry were discharging raw sewage.
The report states that Abbeydorney and Tralee are areas that are prioritised to protect surface waters.
It states progress in identifying and delivering the improvements needed to prevent pollution and protect receiving waters at the remaining 28 priority areas is far too slow, with Uisce Éireann still in the preliminary stages of designing action plans.
The report highlights there’s no clear timeframe to complete improvements or Uisce Éireann doesn't plan to start the upgrade works until at least 2029 in Abbeydorney or Tralee.
The EPA has identified 12 towns and villages, including Kilgarvan, where Uisce Éireann must improve waste water treatment to protect the habitats of freshwater pearl mussels.
It says the national utility must finalise clear action plans for improvement works and allocate resources to deliver these plans as soon as possible.
The report also says Uisce Éireann must complete overdue assessments of the impacts of waste water discharges on 23 designated shellfish waters including Cromane, the Maharees, Tralee Bay, Valentia Harbour and Kenmare River.
