Plans by Irish Water to build a new sewage treatment plant close to Brownknowe national school near Ramelton has angered parents and the farming community along
the Swilly estuary.
Irish Water says that while a preferred site was selected, the exact location has not yet been finalised.
A spokesman said is expected that the planning application will be submitted to the Local Authority in 2019.
However, the local community disgree saying that a nine-acre site in the townland of Tyroddy has already been agreed.
The Tirconail Tribune received a reply from Irish Water.
It states “It seems likely that a Compulsory Purchase Order will be required to acquire the necessary land and wayleaves for the project, before we can progress with the planning applications. We are targeting Q4 2018 to publish the CPO.”
The new central treatment plant will take in sewerage from Ramelton, Milford and Rathmullan.
Landowners say the discharge outlet from the plant will run into the Swilly estuary at a noted beauty spot known as ‘The Daisy Knowe’ a distance of 1.3kms from the main source and around 300 metres beyond the school entrance. It is also the location for mussel beds over many generations.
The Brownknowe school is located five kilometres from Ramelton on the road towards Rathmullan.
We are told the location of the nine-acre site is on forestry property with access from a minor link road in the townland of Tyroddy. The nearest dwelling is only 500 metres distant, said one local resident.
And angry parents point out that the line of vision from the site to the Brownknowe school may even be less than 500 metres and location is totally unacceptable.
Parents who’ve contacted the Tribune say they are deeply concerned that such a large treatment works is going ahead less than half a mile from the school and their fears are based on environmental grounds including odour, pollution, airborne particulate matter, contamination and microplastics dispersal.
Meanwhile, landowners say such a plant will devalue property and reduce house sale prices locally. The local community fears their homes will be devalued and they also have concerns about the value of farmland and building sites being badly affected.
Local residents say the plant is much too close for comfort and they have accused Irish Water of creating a secret plan that ignores the wishes and concerns of the public. Community representatives said that Irish Water has not communicated with the local community and has failed to engage in any consultation process with the residents of the area.
The controversy increased over the weekend when the Tribune obtained information that compulsory purchase orders were being prepared by Irish Water as a matter of urgency.
It is believed these orders will be served before the end of 2018.
As parents began seeking information in relation to the proximity of the plant to the school they say they new nothing of this plan until contacted by the Tribune for their reaction.
They say they are being kept in the dark and Irish Water is effectively putting this plant on the doorstep of their school without any consideration for the views of the community or to discuss other alternatives.
One angry farmer said: “This is madness… it is so stupid to think of linking the sewers from Milford, Rathmullan and Ramelton and it is a waste of public money. Only a public body could come up with a plan that will pose hazards with miles and miles of sewer pipes being pumped under pressure to the new plant. There will be breakdowns of machinery and power and it will prove to be yet another expensive mistake.”
The plant will service sewage and waste water outfalls from the Ramelton, Rathmullan and Milford areas and the cost will run into millions of Euros to service the central location.
The effluent from treatment plant will be discharged into the Swilly Estuary close to the townlands of Tyroddy and the Daisyknowe where precious mussell beds have existed for generations, according to local farmers.
Soil tests have been ongoing for some considerable time to find the most suitable location for the facility since the existing three systems are long past their sell-by date. A large volume of boreholes and trenches have been excavated in the ongoiong process. One farmer declined to respond to rumours that he’d been offered €250 per excavation on his lands.
In their response to our queries Irish Water said: “At present the towns of Rathmullan, Milford and Ramelton have no (Ramelton and Rathmullan) or substandard (Milford) wastewater treatment and are discharging untreated / 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.
Before the establishment of Irish Water in 2014, Donegal County Council had progressed the development of the schemes. This work included a proposal to amalgamate the Milford and Ramelton Sewerage Schemes with a combined wastewater treatment plant in a location equidistant between both locations.
Since 2014, Irish water has further progressed the development of the Milford and Ramelton Sewerage Schemes. The feasibility of adding Rathmullan to the bundle was investigated and deemed to be an optimum solution for all three areas.
A site selection exercise was undertaken and while a preferred site was selected, detailed negotiations with the landowner have not yet taken place and so the exact location of the proposed combined wastewater treatment plant for the Milford, Ramelton and Rathmullan Sewerage Schemes has not been finalised.
Irish Water’s engineering service provider is currently progressing the detailed design and planning of the wastewater infrastructure requirements for these areas.
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. Third party surveys and landowner engagement have commenced.
Once we have sufficient data from our surveys and landowner engagements and we have confirmed the optimum solution for the area we will hold a public information event where people can drop in to meet the project team and find out more about the project.
Irish Water will continue to engage with the local community over the course of the project’s development through our Local Liaison Officer, local media and elected representatives. It is expected that the planning application will be submitted to the Local Authority in 2019.”
