Sign Of A Healthy Economy Should Be A Drinkable River.

“The sign of a healthy economy should be a drinkable river.”

[Quote by Ms Li An Phoa, (founder of the organization ‘Drinkable Rivers’)].

In relation to the pollution of the River Suir in Thurles which we, after 13 years of watching the sheer neglect of same, by Tipperary Co. Council, drew to the attention of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) at the end of August last, has finally received a reply.

**Effluent continues to flow into the River Suir in Thurles Town centre**.
*Pic: G. Willoughb*y *(Dated October 9th, 2025)*

It is with great personal sadness and utter frustration that I report, first on the reply received from the EPA on Tuesday 25th November, 2025 which reads as follows:

(Ref: COM021813)
Dear Mr Willoughby,
Further to previous correspondence and responding to your concerns, the EPA wrote to Tipperary County Council seeking a written response from them on actions taken or planned on this matter.
Tipperary County Council replied to the EPA on 23/10/2025.
I enclose for your information a copy of a report received from Tipperary County Council in response to the issues raised in your complaint.
The EPA is satisfied that Tipperary County Council is dealing with the issue raised in your complaint and in view of this, the EPA will not be pursuing it further at this time.
The EPA recommends that you report any further issues directly to Tipperary County Council (preferably in writing) as the responsible authority.
Please use the reference number above in any further correspondence with the EPA regarding this matter.
Kind regards,
Nessa Dearle.

While the EPA publicly admit that wastewater discharged from 59% of Ireland’s existing treatment plants fail to consistently meet standards set in EPA licences to prevent pollution and further admit that wastewater discharges continue to harm water quality in rivers, estuaries, lakes and coastal waters, they are not anxious to take on Tipperary Co. Council.

We will be publishing the inadequate awareness of the facts in the reply sent to the EPA by Ms Colette Moloney (Senior Executive Scientist with Tipperary County Council) shortly, as soon as time permits.