Northside site chosen for biosolids storage facility

IRISH Water has chosen a site at Newtown/Kilshane, in Dublin 11 for a new biosolids storage facility to serve the greater Dublin region.

The new facility will store biosolids produced at the upgraded Ringsend Wastewater Treatment Plant and at the Greater Dublin Drainage project once that becomes operational.

Biosolids are produced during the wastewater treatment process. They contain high levels of nutrients and are sustainably reused as a soil conditioner and fertiliser in agriculture and forestry.

Under EU and national regulations, biosolids can only be applied to lands during the planting seasons in spring and autumn and are stored for the intervening periods.

Irish Water had earlier this year sought views on a shortlist of five potential sites located in Dublin, Fingal and Meath for the storage facility.

The Newtown/Kilshane site was found to be favourable for planning reasons, landscape and visual impact, noise, ecology, hydrology, distance from biosolids sources and operating costs.

The preferred site will now undergo further environmental studies and assessments as part of the preparation of a planning application for the project.

Environmental impact statements will be prepared for the site and Irish Water has published a scoping report and is now seeking feedback on the proposed assessment methodology.

A six-week consultation period runs until Tuesday, October 10.

Donal O’Connor, Project Manager with Irish Water, explained why the facility is needed.

“The population of Dublin and the surrounding counties of Kildare, Meath and Wicklow is growing,” he said.

“So too is economic activity in this region. Having adequate wastewater treatment infrastructure in place is vital to support residential and commercial development and to protect the environment.

“Irish Water is focused on a strategic solution for greater Dublin to effectively and efficiently manage our wastewater treatment requirements.

“We are investing in the wastewater infrastructure across the region to meet the growing demand. The new Regional Biosolids Storage Facility will be a key part of our future wastewater infrastructure within this region.”

News that the Northside site was chosen for the project was met with relief on the Southside where locals were worried that land at Greenogue Business Park, Rathcoole, would be preferred.

“Earlier this year I made a submission to Irish Water strongly objecting to plans for a regional biosolids storage facility in Greenogue,” said Dublin Mid-West TD, Eoin Ó Broin (SF).

“I understand that there was a large volume of objections from community and business interests in the Newcastle and Rathcoole areas. This site was clearly unsuitable for such a project.”

The Irish Water Project team will be at an open day to explain the project at The White House Hotel, Newpark, Co Dublin, from 1pm-8pm on Tuesday, September 12.

Planning permission for the storage facility will be sought as part of applications for the upgrade of the Ringsend Wastewater Treatment Plant and the proposed new regional wastewater treatment facility for north Dublin (the Greater Dublin Drainage project).