Treatment plant plans progressing
A PLANNING application is due to be lodged with An Bord Pleanála along with an Environment Impact Statement by the end of this year in relation to the proposed Arklow wastewater treatment plant. In a update to local elected representatives, Irish Water this week confirmed that the foreshore licence for marine investigation works at the old Wallboard factory on North Quay has been granted.
‘These works include archaeological surveys, ecological surveys and geotechnical surveys and will be carried out in Arklow Bay and the estuary of the Avoca River. To date non-intrusive site investigation works have been completed with further works to take place. Irish Water is progressing the architectural design of the WwTP and landscape design of the site. This will ensure that the design is to a high standard and will comply with the planning policy for the area and will reflect the marine setting of the location. Irish Water intend to make the proposed design of the WwTP public in the Autumn in advance of submitting the planning application,’ the update outlined.
Following a site selection process the North Quay site was selected as the preferred option for the plant which, when operational, will end the discharge of untreated waste into the Avoca River.
An application for a Wastewater Discharge Licence will be made to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in parallel with the planning application.
Irish Water intends to make the proposed design of the WwTP public in the Autumn in advance of submitting the application.