New waste water system for Lixnaw

TREATMENT SYSTEM WILL ALLOW FOR ‘CONTINUED GROWTH’ OF LIXNAW

A NEW waste-water treatment system designed to look and function as a natural wetland could be on the way for Lixnaw according to proposals by Irish Water.

The waste-water plant currently serving Lixnaw only provides primary treatment and isn’t large enough to treat all waste-water from the village. The EPA, which licences the plant, has ordered that an upgrade is required for the plant by the end of 2019 in order to comply with the statutory requirement. The solution proposed is an ‘Integrated Constructed Wetland’ (ICW), a sustainable system designed to treat waste-water from small, rural communities.

The suggested system would have the capacity to serve some 1,200 people, and a 5.5-hectare site located west-northwest of the village has been earmarked as a possible location.

In designing this system, Irish Water said it engaged with locals during a consultation process, which included bringing a group of people from Lixnaw to view a similar project in County Waterford.

The national water utility now hopes to progress with a planning application for the project.

“An Integrated Constructed Wetland is an excellent wastewater treatment solution for a community like Lixnaw,” Irish Water’s Paul Cremin said.

“Not only does it treat waste-water to a very high standard, but it also encourages biodiversity by providing a habitat for a wide range of flora and fauna.

“There is no one-size-fits-all approach to developing an ICW. Each site is unique which is why we have been engaging closely with the local community to ensure that we have all the relevant information before proceeding with this planning application. We will continue to welcome all input from local residents as we move forward”. Subject to the planning process, Irish Water said it hopes that construction work will get underway by next summer.