Sewer trucks, having to take away excess water "at all hours of the day and night" from the "overworked" Barna sewerage plant, has highlighted the need for the plant to be given a major overhaul.
This is the view of Independent Galway West TD, Noel Grealish, who has called on the Galway County Council and Irish Water to "come together and find a solution" to this issue.
After heavy rainfall, the current sewerage plant, located close to the shore on the west of Barna, requires sewer trucks to take away excess water. Most water treatment plants have an overflow mechanism to excess storm water be released - however the Barna does not appear to have this facility. If excess water is allowed builds up and it's not drained, it can cause the pumps to break down.
Current system 'not fit for purpose'
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As a result, the trucks must come to the plant "at all hours of the day and night" and the consequent noise has caused great disturbance among residents, while an official complaint has been lodged with Irish Water by at least one household.
“It’s obvious that the current system is not fit for purpose and it must be costing a fortune to have these trucks regularly coming around to take away the storm water," said Dep Grealish. "However, the way Irish Water is at the moment, it could take eight weeks for that pump to be repaired or replaced."
Dep Grealish said the "best solution" was for Irish Water to invest in a new pumping system to handle the volume being pumped into the Barna system.
