Locals oppose sewage plant adjacent to pier

A Connemara community has come together to campaign against a proposed sewage and waste water treatment plant which is planned near a local pier.

The scheme was also criticised at this week’s meeting of Galway County Council where members claimed it was insufficient to fully treat the waste water being discharged into the sea. Local opponents to the scheme in Carraroe said that this was the second time in the last ten years that the community has had to campaign against the same issue.

Those living near Sruthán Pier said this week that they had reluctantly had to revive their campaign to stop a sewage and waste water treatment plant being located beside the scenic pier.

“The people of this area fought a long and determined campaign when it was proposed to locate this plant here years ago,” said Pól Mac Donncha of Coiste Pobail Chéibh an tSrutháin.

“Because of that campaign Galway County Councillors refused to adopt the proposal, and people thought that was the end of any prospect of a sewage treatment plant at Sruthán Pier,” he added.

But now those same residents say that there has been no change from their original stance – and that the community will continue to argue against the proposal.

Irish Water said the new plant would stop the discharge of untreated effluent into the sea at Carna Bay – but Cllr Noel Thomas claimed that this was only a partial treatment of the waste water and, when the scheme is completed, there will still be contaminated water entering the sea.

“This is a bit of a waste of time,” he declared. “All they are doing is removing the solids from the sewerage which means that we will still be releasing just partially treated water into the sea which is unacceptable.

“Effectively we will still be pumping sewerage into the sea despite this investment which is insufficient for the village’s needs and that of the water quality at sea”, Cllr Thomas added.

Irish Water said the new plant would “stop the discharge of the equivalent of 1,300 wheelie bins of untreated wastewater being discharged directly into Casla Bay each day”.

See full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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