Irish Water submits CPO for major sewer project

IRISH Water is submitting a compulsory purchase order (CPO) to An Bord Pleanála to acquire lands to upgrade the existing sewer network.

The network serves Blanchardstown and surrounding catchment areas in Mulhuddart and Castleknock in Dublin, in Dunboyne, Clonee, Ashbourne and Ratoath in County Meath and in Kildare.

The proposed project will be located along the Tolka River Valley in Blanchardstown between Parslickstown and Mill Road and a new pumping station will be constructed at Waterville close to Mill Road.

The project represents an investment of approximately €50 million by Irish Water and it’s designed to expand the existing capacity of the wastewater network in the area to facilitate existing and future residential and commercial growth.

The project will also benefit the environment, as the increased sewer capacity will reduce the frequency and volume of overflows of untreated wastewater from the network into the River Tolka.

It’s expected the project will support the future economic and social development in Blanchardstown as well as surrounding areas in Meath and Kildare as well.

The proposed project will include the construction of approximately 3.2kms of new sewer pipelines using trenchless tunnelling techniques alongside the existing sewer network between Parslickstown and Mill Road in Blanchardstown.

The construction includes underground flow balancing storage tanks with a total combined capacity of approximately 30,000m³.

Plans also show a new below ground pumping station with above ground control room to be constructed on the site of the existing Tolka Valley Park Pumping Station at Waterville near the Mill Road.

There will also be a new control building to house all electrical switchgear, control equipment, an odour control unit, a generator room and an ESB sub-station.

During the project local sewer and utility diversions will be carried out to facilitate construction of the flow balancing storage tanks and Tolka Valley Park Pumping Station.

Once the proposed project is complete the area will be fully reinstated to match the original condition and associated site works.

The existing sewer network (9C sewer) was originally constructed in the Tolka Valley in the 1970s to serve Blanchardstown, Mulhuddart and Castleknock.

Since its construction the catchment area has undergone significant growth and as a result the sewer now serves Blanchardstown and a number of additional towns in County Meath including Dunboyne, Clonee, Ashbourne and Ratoath.

The existing sewer network doesn’t have the capacity to serve the needs of this fast growing population and is subject to flows which results in untreated wastewater overflows from the sewer network to the River Tolka.

Irish Water carried out site investigation works in Autumn 2016 on the proposed route, and this has informed the design, construction methods and contributed to the Environmental Impact Statement.

Following submission of a planning application in May, the scheme was granted planning permission in July, subject to 14 planning conditions.

John Joyce, Wastewater Infrastructure Programme Regional Lead said Irish Water was pleased to be progressing what he described as an important project.

“The proposed project will expand the existing capacity of the sewer network in the area to facilitate existing and future residential and commercial growth,” he added.

“Irish Water is committed to investing in the sewer treatment infrastructure in Blanchardstown to support the needs of this fast growing population.

@The investment will benefit the environment as once completed there will be fewer overflows of untreated water to the River Tolka.”

Further information on the project is available on the Irish Water website at www.water.ie/projects-plans/blanchardstown-regional-d/