Urban Wastewater Directive Discharge Compliance Criteria

'We've been betrayed'

Following the announcement on Wednesday that An Bord Pleanala gave the green light to the treatment plant Moville-Serres, a local environmentalist said they are "more determined than ever to stop the controversial project to move forward

Enda Craig, spokesman for the Community for a Clean Estuary said the group had "major concerns" about the report, which will give the controversial project the green light and put an end to the saga twenty-one years.

However Craig reinforced the opinion of the group saying they will seriously consider taking the decision of the High Court for judicial review and, if necessary, to the European Court as they have "serious concerns" about of publication.

"The complete and detailed report will be published next week and we will be looking in the forensic. There are too many unanswered questions about the proposed site and we will be looking for answers. "

Mr. Craig said that the group feels like it is "a complete betrayal," but they will not take this decision on.

"We are ten times more determined to fight what ever. We plan to take to the High Court or Europe if necessary.

"The following process is now the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) to consider giving Donegal County Council for a license from the pump discharge to the estuary. We can assure you that we will be watching this with the eyes of Eagle. "

However Donegal County Council have welcomed the news of the An Bord Pleanála.

Water main engineer Paul Kilcoyne told the "Journal", the Council welcomes the decision by An Bord Pleanala.

"We will now look to progress the scheme of construction as soon as possible."

In a report released Wednesday by An Bord Pleanala has ruled that the application by Donegal County Council, filed with the Commission October 23, 2008 be approved.

He said in his decision, the Board considered a number of different options, including the requirements of the urban wastewater directive, the current unsatisfactory situation concerning wastewater discharges in the cities of Moville and Greencastle Lough Foyle, and the urgent need to address with the same wastewater collection and treatment systems improved.He reviewed the Environmental Impact Statement and additional information submitted by the applicant at the hearing and in writing in response to requests for additional information by An Bord Pleanála, and finally the observations made by the observers, including evidence at the hearing written and oral board.

Environment secretary Caroline Spelman supports Thames tunnel ...

Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman today gave her support to Thames Water’s plans for a tunnel to reduce the amount of raw sewage discharged into the River Thames.

The core of London’s sewage network was designed in the late 19th Century and was designed to overflow at times of heavy rainfall to ensure that sewage did not back up into houses and streets. Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs) were intended to discharge the raw sewage into the Thames in the event of extremely heavy rain.

Increasing populations and changes to land use in London have lead to this occurring around 50 times per year. With further population growth and projected climate change, this figure is expected to increase in coming decades and spills could occur when there is very little rain. This also creates problems for the UK’s continued compliance with EU waste water treatment regulations.

On 22 March 2007, the then Minister for Climate Change and the Environment announced his support for a tunnel based solution to the problems in the Thames and asked Thames Water to take forward the design process for the Thames Tideway Project. This included the Lee Tunnel (a smaller tunnel on which construction work has begun), upgrades to sewage treatment works and the larger Thames Tunnel. In the intervening years Thames Water, the Environment Agency and Ofwat have worked together researching and analysing different options. Thames Water estimates that the proposed Tunnel will cost £3.6bn which could result in bill increases of around £60-65 per year for Thames Water customers.

Caroline Spelman said:

‘A tunnel continues to offer by far the most cost effective solution to the unacceptable problem of raw sewage being regularly discharged into the Thames. This is a large and complex project and I recognise that it comes at a significant cost. I will ensure that Defra and Ofwat continue to scrutinise the costs and options to ensure that Thames Water’s proposals represent proper value for money.’

Thames Water will shortly launch a consultation exercise on the need for the tunnel, the route and the sites needed to construct and operate the project. Defra carried out an Impact Assessment in 2007 and will update this before publishing the revised version of the document on the Defra website.

Sewage collection and treatment in the UK is largely determined by the requirements of the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) transposed into domestic law by the Urban Waste Water Treatment (England and Wales) Regulations 1994.

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