Irish Water has advised the Belmullet wastewater and sewage treatment scheme is set to proceed to tender in the coming months with construction on the project expected to begin in the first quarter of 2016.
That is according to Deputy Michelle Mulherin (FG ), who said she met recently with Irish Water’s head of assets Jerry Grant and he advised a number of schemes are ready to progress as part of the agency’s three-year €20 million plan for capital investment in sewage and wastewater treatment schemes in Mayo.
The Charlestown and Foxford schemes are expected to go to tender in late 2015 or early 2016.
The Killala scheme, expected to go through the planning process in the coming months, should see construction begin by mid 2016, according to Deputy Mulherin.
“It is great news to see these projects advancing at long last,” said the Ballina based representative.
“We cannot continue to allow a situation where raw sewage and wastewater are being allowed to be discharged untreated into our rivers and lakes and coastal waters, and into environmentally sensitive designated areas such as SACs along the River Moy catchment area and estuary and in the designated area for shellfish protection at Belmullet.
“This is not only environmentally hazardous but also poses a danger to the health of human beings.
“For tourism, we have to maintain our clean and green image and if we do not have proper wastewater treatment this is a significant obstacle to the growth of businesses and economic investment in our area,” continued Deputy Mulherin.
