New wastewater plant in Oldcastle moves a step closer

Plans for the new sewerage scheme in Oldcastle have moved a step closer after a planning report on the development was passed by councillors at their July meeting. The wastewater treatment plant has been designed to meet a population of 3,500 and provision has been made for a second stage of the development that would increase the capacity to cater for a population of 5,250. The existing treatment plant only has capacity for 1,500 population and is incapable of effectively treating any significant additional foul water. Presently operational works are ongoing as an interim measure to ensure an adequate level of service for the existing population, according to Meath County Council. The new wastewater treatment works is proposed to be located on a greenfield site on 0.781 hectares approximately 1km west of Oldcastle town or 500m west of the existing works. It will be developed in a modular manner and constructed in two stages, the first stage to be constructed initially and which will have a capacity to treat a population equivalent of 3,500. Stage two would increase the overall capacity of the works to a population equivalent of 5,250 and will be constructed at some date in the future. The plans for the first stage of the new plant include an inlet pump station, aeration treatment process, tertiary tretament by rapid sand filtration, picket fence thickener, storm water holidng tank and inlet works, administration and sludge press buildings. There will also be an outfall to the River Inny, and all necessary fencing/landscaping works. A new access road is to be built to access the proposed treatment site from the R154, Oldcastle to Kilnaleck road. The existing wastewater treatment works will be decommissioned and all structures on-site are to be demolished. It is also proposed to upgrade the Cavan Street pump station, including the construction of a new pump sump, emergency stormwater holding tank and emergency overflow. Meath County Council is currently applying to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for a wastewater discharge licence for the Oldcastle Sewerage Scheme in accordance with the Wastewater Discharge Regulations. The plans were put on public display from 31st March to 15th May and no third party submissions were received. Responses to referrals from the EPA, Shannon Regional Fisheries Board, HSE and Department of the Environment were received. The HSE responded by saying that an appropriate assessment could not be carried out in the absense of an environmental impact statement (EIS) but the council replied that an EIS is not required for a of this size and that a detailed environmental assessment had been carried out as part of the preliminary engineering report in August 2007. The Department of the Environment & Local Government recommended that pre-development archaeological testing be done and this is one of the conditions recommended by the planning report. Work is expected to begin on the new plant in late 2009 with an expected opening date in 2011.