EPA lifts suspension of North Cork Creameries' discharge licence
North Cork Creameries is to resume the discharge of effluent from its wastewater treatment plant in Kanturk.
It comes as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) confirmed this week that it was reinstating the co-op's discharge licence.
In February, the EPA again suspended the co-op's licence to discharge from its wastewater treatment plant due to "the persistent nature of performance issues".
The agency had stated that these issues had "threatened to cause an immediate adverse effect on the environment in particular, the ecological and chemical water quality of the River Allow".
"Following actions taken by the licensee since the suspension, the EPA is satisfied the licensee has confirmed that, based on the information submitted and the EPA’s own investigations, compliance with the criteria as set out in that suspension notice has been achieved," a spokesperson for the EPA said.
"Accordingly, EPA has decided that discharges of compliant treated effluent may recommence as of the July 23 2026 at a significantly reduced level," they added.
EPA
The EPA noted that submissions from North Cork Creameries had outlined that "operational changes, process refinements and plant modifications were introduced to optimise treatment efficiency and overall system performance.”
In reinstating the licence, the EPA stated that North Cork Creameries must comply with several additional requirements.
This includes that non-compliant effluent must not be discharged to the River Allow.
The volume processed through the wastewater treatment plant must not exceed 480m3/day and 20m3/hour.
This volume must be reduced back by the co-op as needed to ensure compliance with emission limit values (ELVs) is maintained.
The EPA said that the recommencement of discharges should take a phased approach, confirming at each stage that effluent remains compliant through sampling and analysis.
North Cork Creameries will be required to submit a report to the EPA on the performance of the plant in its first 30 days of operation by August 31, 2026.
"The agency will review the report when received and consider the ongoing viability and appropriateness of the licensee’s WWTP arrangements accordingly," the letter said.
The co-op will also be required to submit a proposal for the installation of a monitor to provide "continuous data on ambient parameters in the River Allow".
North Cork Creameries
In a statement, North Cork Creameries welcomed the confirmation from the EPA that the co-op has achieved compliance with conditions relating to wastewater treatment.
The co-op said it is authorised to resume discharge of treated wastewater as of July 23, 2026, in line with the EPA’s specified requirements.
"This follows a four-month extensive programme of design, implementation and testing of the necessary improvements and mitigations required to ensure that the highest standards are met and consistent compliance is maintained," a spokesperson for North Cork Creameries said.
"North Cork Creameries supports the work of the EPA and endorses the rigorous reviews conducted by the EPA throughout this period, which has enabled the co-operative to put best practices in place.
"The outcome represents an integral step in the co-operative's current strategy of investment, operational improvement and regulatory compliance.
"Following also from our recently announced commercial milk processing arrangement with Carbery, today's development provides further confidence regarding the long-term future of North Cork Creameries and our commitment to delivering certainty, stability and value for our milk suppliers, employees, customers and the wider community, while maintaining the highest standards of environmental protection," they said.
The spokesperson added that "North Cork Creameries is committed to continuing engagement with the EPA".
