EPA highlights need to upgrade Athlone's sewers

Athlone is one of seven areas nationally where collecting systems for wastewater must be upgraded to address the findings of a judgment from the Court of Justice of the European Union.

A recent report by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) highlighted the list of seven large towns and cities, which also includes Roscommon town, where sewers need to be upgraded to ensure waste water is retained and conveyed for treatment.

The report, Urban Waste Water Treatment in 2020, says that the pace at which improvements in wastewater treatment are being delivered in Ireland is too slow.

It cites 42 towns nationally, including Ballymore and Multyfarnham in Westmeath, where waste water is the main pressure on water bodies at risk of pollution.

The report further says that 34 towns and villages release raw sewage into the environment every day, and a third of these will continue to do so after 2024. The report also finds that some 12 large towns and cities, which generate half of Ireland’s waste water, did not meet waste water treatment standards set to protect our environment.

In relation to Athlone, it says that the long-awaited upgrade of the wastewater collecting system in the town would be completed in Autumn 2025.

The Court of Justice of the European Union judgment related to the existence of combined sewer outflows on the Athlone sewer system. These spill a mixture of storm water and sewage into the Shannon and the Athlone Canal during heavy downpours.

Back in 2017, Irish Water submitted a planning application for the project and earlier this summer, it submitted an application for a Compulsory Purchase Order to An Bord Pleanála to progress the sewer network upgrade.

The project involves the construction of new pumping stations in Golden Island and Coosan West, and the construction of almost 3km of sewer network. It will also involve the removal of six existing overflows and the construction of two new overflows designed to Irish Water standards as well as connecting the new and existing sewer networks together.

The most notable feature of the new plan, believed to involve an estimated investment of at least €30m, are two new sewer tunnels to be built under the Shannon crossing from west to east.

A 235-metre tunnel is to be constructed under the River Shannon linking Burgess Park to the west bank of the river at The Big Meadow.

And a separate 100m tunnel is also planned to convey sewage from the Quay Road on the west bank to a new sewer in The Strand car park on the eastern side of the river.

In a statement, Irish Water said: “When completed, the project will reduce the risk of sewer flooding in Athlone and reduce sewer overflows to the River Shannon. It will also improve the capacity of the sewer network, allowing for current and future population growth and economic development.

Regarding the inclusion of Ballymore among 42 towns were the treatment plants need upgrades to protect water bodies, the report also states that a completion date is required from Irish Water.

Ballymore native Cllr Vinny McCormack (FF) said that the report “only confirms what we have known about for quite some time that the waste water treatment plant is in urgent need of an upgrade”.

Cllr McCormack said that earlier this year he received confirmation that Irish Water has allocated over €1m for the upgrade of the plant and that work should progress next year.

“Not alone are there environmental issues but there are also huge limitations on how the village can develop. It restrained us when we were working on the county development plan because we couldn't zone much in the way of additional land in Ballymore because the waste water treatment capacity simply wasn't there.

“I was very happy to receive confirmation from Irish Water that the investment is now there and that the works are scheduled for next year. That will immediately impact on the environmental issues highlighted in the EPA report. I also got confirmation from the planning department in the council that we will subsequently be able to zone additional land during the review of the CDP," Cllr McCormack said.

“I had identified a couple of sites in the area that would be good in terms of serviced sites for people who were looking to build a house but were struggling to get planning permission rurally. They could purchase a serviced site in the village and build their own house.

“That is a real plus in terms of keeping people in the locality, but also moving slightly away from one off rural houses and hopefully building up the population in the village where all the services are. It would also hopefully lead to additional services,” Cllr McCormack added.

In a statement, a spokesperson for Irish Water said: "Ballymore Waste Water Treatment Plant was selected for funding under the Small Towns and Villages Growth Programme, Irish Water’s scheme to support growth in smaller towns and villages, and is currently progressing through the necessary stages including detailed design, planning, procurement and construction. The project is at an early stage and as such, it is difficult to provide timelines for delivery at this stage, however a further updates will be provided as the project progresses.

"Irish Water is responsible for the delivery of all public water and waste water services in Ireland. We are committed to continuously upgrading and developing critical infrastructure to support the growth needed in housing and across our economy, while protecting the environment and safeguarding water supplies."