Ringsend upgrade works welcomed

IRISH Water have welcomed a decision by An Bord Pleanála to grant planning permission for the Ringsend Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade Project.

They say the project will protect public health, safeguard the environment and support sustainable social and economic growth.

The Ringsend Wastewater Treatment Plant treats approximately 40 per cent of Ireland’s public wastewater. Irish Water said the plant is operating over capacity and is not in compliance with the EU’s Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive.

They added that the planned upgrade will ensure that wastewater water arriving at the plant is treated to the required standard and will improve the water quality in the Lower Liffey Estuary, a key priority for Irish Water since it took responsibility for water and wastewater ser-vices in 2014.

Jean Hobbs, Project Manager with Irish Water, said: “Having adequate wastewater treatment infrastructure is essential to safeguard the environment and to facilitate housing and commercial development.

“These works will allow the wastewater generated every day in our homes, schools and workplaces to be treated in compliance with the EU and national wastewater treatment regu-lations and returned safely to Dublin Bay.”

 In 2012, An Bord Pleanála granted approval to Dublin City Council to upgrade the existing facility and increase its capacity based on technologies available at the time.

This included an extension in secondary treatment capacity as well as the construction of a 9km long sea outfall tunnel to relocate the discharge of treated wastewater from Ringsend out into Dublin Bay.

In January 2014, Irish Water assumed responsibility for the provision of public water services, which included the transfer of responsibility for the Ringsend Wastewater Treatment Plant from Dublin City Council.

“Since taking on this responsibility, we have completed thorough reviews and evaluations of the elements of the project and we are now proposing an alternative solution within a revised project,” Ms Hobbs said.

The upgrade works will facilitate the use of an innovative technology, Aerobic Granular Sludge (AGS), which allows for a greater amount of wastewater to be treated to a higher standard within the current plant.

Ms Hobbs added: “The upgrade project uses innovative technology to deliver a more sustainable, safe, and environmentally sensitive solution for the Ringsend Wastewater Treatment Plant.

“Irish Water’s experts identified the new AGS technology as the best solution for the Ringsend Wastewater Treatment Plant and we began detailed testing and trials in April 2015.

“These trials proved hugely successful and confirmed that wastewater treated by AGS technology can be safely discharged at the current outfall location while protecting the nutrient sensitive Lower Liffey Estuary.”