Irish Water is currently progressing the detailed design of wastewater infrastructure for the towns of Rathmullan, Milford and Ramelton in Co Donegal and is working towards submitting a planning application in 2019. The environmental studies required to support the planning application are ongoing.
At present the towns of Rathmullan, Milford and Ramelton have no (Ramelton and Rathmullan) or substandard (Milford) wastewater treatment and are discharging untreated or partially treated wastewater into the environment at these three separate locations. The practice of discharging untreated wastewater is unacceptable and Irish Water intends to rectify this problem. This will be achieved through the construction of pumping stations at the three locations, rising mains and a combined wastewater treatment plant which will discharge treated effluent to the Leannon Estuary.
This project will ensure that there is an adequate treatment of wastewater, for now and into the future, as well as protecting human health and safeguarding the environment. It is envisaged that planning, design and construction will take approximately 3 to 4 years and will be undertaken between 2018 and 2021.
Irish Water held a public information evening on October 15, 2018 to present plans for this project.
During the design of the scheme, the option of treating sludge onsite using Sludge Drying Reed Beds emerged as the preferred option. Sludge Drying Reed Beds are commonly used for the process of sludge treatment on both small and large scale wastewater treatment plants, throughout Europe. They have not been used extensively in Ireland to date but do exist at a smaller scale and are being piloted by Irish Water currently on a number of sites in County Carlow.
Irish Water is confident that Sludge Drying Reed Beds will form part of the future landscape of wastewater infrastructure throughout Ireland, however, in the case of this project, our engineering experts have determined that Sludge Drying Reed Beds should be removed from the scope of the project. We met with the local community and their concerns were reflected as part of this decision.
Irish Water will issue further updates on the project in due course.
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