Concerns raised over maintaining Tipperary village's wastewater plant once it's built
Councillors seek assurance that Grangemockler’s constructed wetland wastewater treatment plant will be adequately maintained and monitored when it’s up and running
Two councillors have sought assurance that Uisce Éireann will adequately maintain and monitor Grangemockler's proposed constructed wetland wastewater treatment plant when it becomes operational.
Carrick Municipal District Cathaoirleach Cllr David Dunne of Sinn Féin and Leas Cathaoirleach Cllr Mark Fitzgerald of Fine Gael highlighted concerns at the monthly meeting of the district's councillors about the monitoring and maintenance of the new treatment plant when it's completed.
They raised the issue after Local Authority Waters Programme representatives Dr Fran Igoe and Darragh Kelly reported on the programme's work in Carrick MD.
Work on constructing the nature-based wastewater treatment system, designed to look and function as a natural wetland, is due to start this autumn after An Coimisiún Pleanála confirmed planning approval for the project in February.
Cllr Dunne told the LAWPRO representatives he was concerned that if the new wastewater treatment plant is not properly maintained that it will impact the quality of water in the River Lingaun, which is a source of water supply for part of his hometown of Carrick-on-Suir.
LAWPRO's South East Regional Coordinator Dr Fran Igoe aknowledged LAWPRO has similar concerns about this type of wastewater treatment system if it's not properly managed.
But he pointed out that Uisce Éireann have carried out a lot of research on these type of systems and the plant will have to be monitored as it will be licenced by the EPA.
He said there were quite a few examples of the constructed wetland wastewater treatment plant around the country. Annestown in county Waterford was one such community with this type of wastewater treatment system, the Dunhill Integrated Constructed Wetland.
Dr Igoe said it was his personal view that if this wastewater treatment system can be vouched for by the experts in this area, then he was all for it but agreed it needed to be monitored.
Cllr Fitzgerald expressed the view that Grangemockler's proposed wastewater treatment plant will be a cheaper type of system compared to the traditional treatment plant that has to be manned. “I hope I am wrong," he said.
He pointed out the reed beds would have to be maintained, and from his dealings with Uisce Éireann he questioned the utility's ability to carry out this monitoring. He believed there needed to be community involvement in monitoring this plant and noted the constructed wetland plant in Annestown was developed by the local community before being taken over by Uisce Éireann.
Dr Igoe replied that Uisce Éireann has set up a new unit to deal with natured-based solutions and part of this unit will deal with constructed wetland wastewater treatment plants.
He said LAWPRO engages with Uisce Éireann and promised to bring back the issues and questions the councillors raised at the meeting and report back to them.
Apart from the development of the new treatment plant, the Grangemockler project will include a new pumping station and rising main, and the decommissioning of three existing wastewater treatment plants by constructing new collector sewers.
Stantec and Ward & Burke Construction Ltd. will collaboratively carry out the work on behalf of Uisce Éireann, which says the project will significantly reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions compared with the conventional wastewater treatment process, while also acting as a carbon sink helping to offset emissions from other sources.
The utility says the constructed wetland will contain vegetated ponds planted with native species that will enhance biodiversity. Due to the limited above-ground infrastructure, the ponds will have minimal visual impact on the landscape.