A new storm water attenuation tank at Bachelor’s Walk in Ballina was given the go ahead by the elected members this week at the monthly meeting of Ballina Town Council. The new tank was proposed by Fianna Fáil councillor Johnny O’Malley and seconded by Fine Gael councillor Barry McLoughlin following a debate on the potential hazards of effluent getting into the Moy.
Fianna Fáil councillor Willie Nolan told the meeting that he would find it very difficult to vote for the new tank if any effluent would be released from it into the river. Cllr Nolan told the meeting that it would be unacceptable to have any sort of discharge into the Moy.
As part of the plan for the new tank there would be an overflow facility built into the tank that would be used in only exceptional circumstances. Town manager Paddy Mahon, in response to Cllr Nolan’s concerns, assured the members that the new tank would be designed to the highest engineering standards and would meet all Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Environment best practices and standards. Mr Mahon also said that while he could not guarantee that no effluent would be released into the Moy, it was designed so that it would be storm water rather than effluent that would overflow if necessary, and that it was a far better solution to the current situation.
