Engineer’s waste tanks warning

A LOCAL engineer says plans to build four massive wastewater storage tanks on land just 200 meters from Connolly Hospital will cause disruption to patients, visitors and residents in the surrounding area.

The underground tanks will be used for storm water overflows from a vital new sewer but engineer Sean Lyons is calling for an alternative route to be considered.

Mr Lyons – a member of the Connolly Hospital Patients’ Council – believes the tanks could generate a stench in the area that would potentially cause

“debilitating discomfort

? to patients and residents.

He also fears there’ll be continuous noise from motors at a proposed pumping station as well as traffic congestion from tankers taking debris away.

“Those four massive tanks will be right in front of the hospital,

? he said.

“There are residents who live very, very close to it and they’re very concerned.

“What we’re trying to do is get them to shift it. We don’t want to stop it altogether, because we know we can’t. We just want to nudge them a little bit east.

?

Mr Lyons is also concerned that the tanks could prove a threat to fish as he believes wastewater could end up in the nearby Tolka River in the event of a systems failure.

He’s distributed information leaflets to areas near the proposed site including Herbert Road, Millstead and Mill Road, asking residents to voice their concerns to Fingal County Council.

The new sewer is part of Fingal County Council’s new Blanchardstown Regional Drainage Scheme and experts say it’s badly needed as the current sewer is operating at almost full capacity.

The proposed sewer will run alongside the current one, which carries wastewater from Blanchardstown to a treatment plant in Ringsend before it’s discharged into Dublin Bay.

Officials from the Greater Dublin Drainage Project say the storage tanks are needed for storm water overflows from the sewer to protect the Tolka River.

They point out that the tanks will be below ground level and covered and that odour and noise levels will comply with EU directives and Irish regulations.

The new sewer is part of the Greater Dublin Drainage Project, which also proposes that by 2020 the flow of wastewater coming from Blanchardstown will be intercepted and transferred through a new orbital sewer to a planned controversial new wastewater treatment plant at Clonshagh.

The new sewer is part of that overall project and a pumping station will also be needed at Abbotstown to pump wastewater through the new 12.5km pipeline to Clonshagh.

However, Mr Lyons is adamant that an alternative route that he’s proposing to the east of the current one will cost the same and take the tanks and nearby pumping station much further away from the hospital and St Francis Hospice.

His route runs parallel to the proposed one on the eastern side of the M50 and the tanks would be built on land near Dunsink.

However, officials behind the project have defended their plans saying they’ve undertaken a high level review of Mr Lyon’s proposal and don’t believe it’s feasible.

“The route indicated by the Greater Dublin Drainage (GDD) project team is the route with the least impact on a technical, environmental and cost basis,

? a spokesperson told Northside People.

“The suggested alternative would require the extension of the 9C Sewer to cross under the M50 through the grounds of Connolly Hospital.

?

The project team has also dismissed suggestions that the proposals would cause discomfort to locals.

“Modern pumping stations are designed to limit the production of odours and any odours will be treated in line with EU directives and Irish regulations,

? the spokesperson continued.

“Noise levels are minimal and again have to comply with the relevant regulations.

“The majority of the pumping station operation takes place below ground in concrete structures.

?

A spokesperson for Connolly Hospital said it was engaging with Fingal County Council in relation to two major sewage facilities placed adjacent to its campus.

“The project containing the large storage tanks has already been granted planning permission,

? she said.

“The second project involving the pumping station has yet to go to the planning stage and Connolly Hospital is presently assessing the project and its impact upon the Hospital.

?

An application for planning approval for the GDD proposals is due to go before An Bord Pleanála in early 2015.

An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Natura Impact Statement (NIS) are currently being undertaken for GDD’s preferred site option. The statements will be submitted as part of the planning approval documentation to An Bord Pleanála.

As part of the planning process, the Bord will carry out statutory consultation to provide the public with an opportunity to have their say on the proposals.

If approved, it’s envisaged work would begin in 2017 at the earliest.