Irish Water has published a Compulsory Purchase Order to obtain wayleaves from landowners to create a new sewerage scheme for Gweedore.
Progress on plans for a new sewerage network for the area and upgrading of the treatment plant in Gweedore was unveiled today.
Gweedore currently does not currently have adequate wastewater treatment and is over-reliant on the use of septic tank systems. The new project sets out to stop untreated wastewater discharging into the local environment.
Irish Water aim to acquire wayleaves to access local lands to carry out the works. Consultations have begun with all landowners identified on the proposed demonstration project. Irish Water has submitted the Compulsory Purchase Order to An Bord Pleanála. The timeline for the commencement of works is subject to CPO statutory approvals.
The upgrade of the existing wastewater treatment plant will reduce the level of untreated wastewater discharging into the environment while also delivering extra capacity to support development in Gweedore.
The new sewerage network will ultimately lead to a reduction on the reliance of septic tanks in the area. The proposed collection system allows for properties and sites in the area to be connected to the network, where they may have previously been constrained by the ground conditions if a traditional sewerage system was used.
To allow for the connections to the network over 40 homes have signed up to the Demonstration Project and initial surveys of these homes have been completed. Irish Water would like to thank the people of Gweedore for their support to date.
Cllr Michael Cholm Mac Giolla Easbuig has welcomed the scheme.
He said: “I would like to recognise the hard work of the local community to get the sewer this far. It’s important that this scheme goes ahead. But it is very disappointing that the initial scheme from Dore to Brinlack hasn’t been delivered. After 40-50 years, it shows the lack of proper investment that the State has put into rural and Gaeltacht areas. We are deserving of a sewer system equal to everywhere else.
“And it’s a disgrace, in this day and age, that the parish of Anagaire still doesn’t have a sewerage scheme. We need a proper scheme with a treatment plant,” added Cllr Mac Giolla Easbuig.