The National Wastewater and Drainage Plan will establish the strategic foundations for wastewater planning in the period to 2055.
We are developing our first national strategic plan for all public wastewater systems. The National Wastewater and Drainage Plan (NWWDP) will provide a long-term, nationally consistent and evidence-based framework for understanding current performance, assessing future risks and identifying future planning and investment needs to 2055.
Why are we developing this Plan?
The public wastewater system operates within an increasingly complex environment. These challenges require a more strategic, long-term, and nationally consistent approach to planning.
Uisce Éireann, as Ireland's national public water services provider, collects and treats more than 1.2 billion litres of wastewater every day before it is safely returned to the environment. Providing safe, secure and sustainable wastewater services is essential to protect public health, support housing and economic growth, and safeguard Ireland's water environment and natural resources.
To meet future trends and changing requirements, the NWWDP will provide a consistent, evidence-based, adaptable framework for assessing these changes, understanding future risks, and identifying long-term planning and investment needs.
Key Phases of the NWWDP
Proposed Performance Indicators
Performance indicators are a key part of the proposed approach. They will help us understand how wastewater services are performing today, identify current and future risks, and determine where improvements and future investment may be needed.
This is the first formal stage of public consultation on the NWWDP.
We are seeking your views on:
the challenges, opportunities and future trends that should shape the Plan;
the proposed approach to developing the NWWDP;
the proposed Performance Indicators;
the scope and methodology of the Strategic Environmental Assessment; and
how Uisce Éireann should communicate and engage as the Plan develops.
We are also seeking feedback on the proposed scope of the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), providing an opportunity for people to influence how wastewater services are planned and delivered into the future. Feedback will inform the preparation of the Draft NWWDP and its accompanying environmental assessments. Detailed questions are included in Section 1.8 (Consultation) of the SEA Scoping Report.
Consultation Documents
Consultation documents can be viewed and downloaded:
1. Have we identified the key challenges and opportunities and future trends that should shape wastewater and drainage planning in Ireland to 2055? Are there any significant issues that should receive greater consideration?
2. Do you have any comments on the proposed approach for developing the NWWDP including the use of evidence-based decision-making and adaptive planning as well as long-term risk assessment?
3. Do you consider the proposed Performance Indicators to be: clear and understandable; meaningful and measurable; and appropriate for assessing long-term wastewater and drainage performance?
4. Are there any additional Performance Indicators that you consider appropriate for assessing long-term wastewater and drainage performance?
5. Do you have any comments on the proposed scope and methodology of the Strategic Environmental Assessment including the environmental issues and pressures and sensitivities that should be considered?
6. How would you like Uisce Éireann to communicate and engage with stakeholders as the NWWDP progresses?
National Wastewater and Drainage Plan (NWWDP)
The National Wastewater and Drainage Plan will establish the strategic foundations for wastewater planning in the period to 2055.
We are developing our first national strategic plan for all public wastewater systems. The National Wastewater and Drainage Plan (NWWDP) will provide a long-term, nationally consistent and evidence-based framework for understanding current performance, assessing future risks and identifying future planning and investment needs to 2055.
Why are we developing this Plan?
The public wastewater system operates within an increasingly complex environment. These challenges require a more strategic, long-term, and nationally consistent approach to planning.
Uisce Éireann, as Ireland's national public water services provider, collects and treats more than 1.2 billion litres of wastewater every day before it is safely returned to the environment. Providing safe, secure and sustainable wastewater services is essential to protect public health, support housing and economic growth, and safeguard Ireland's water environment and natural resources.
To meet future trends and changing requirements, the NWWDP will provide a consistent, evidence-based, adaptable framework for assessing these changes, understanding future risks, and identifying long-term planning and investment needs.
Key Phases of the NWWDP
Proposed Performance Indicators
Performance indicators are a key part of the proposed approach. They will help us understand how wastewater services are performing today, identify current and future risks, and determine where improvements and future investment may be needed.
For more information on these indicators and how they will be used, please see the Performance Indicators Factsheet.
What are we consulting on?
This is the first formal stage of public consultation on the NWWDP.
We are seeking your views on:
We are also seeking feedback on the proposed scope of the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), providing an opportunity for people to influence how wastewater services are planned and delivered into the future. Feedback will inform the preparation of the Draft NWWDP and its accompanying environmental assessments. Detailed questions are included in Section 1.8 (Consultation) of the SEA Scoping Report.
Consultation Documents
Consultation documents can be viewed and downloaded:
Consultation Period
Opens: 22 October 2026 at 9:00AM.
Closes: 17 December 2026 at Midnight.
Have Your Say
We encourage you to review the consultation documents before making a submission.
Submissions can be made:
Online: on this consultation portal using the ' Make a Submission' link on this page.
By Email: NWWDP@water.ie
By Post: National Wastewater and Drainage Plan (NWWDP), Uisce Éireann, PO Box 860, South City Delivery Office, Cork City.
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