Please find some Frequently Asked Questions. If your question is not answered here, please do not hesitate to ask. The Project Team’s contact details can be found on the Contact Us page.

To view an explanatory note of how the 3 emerging preferred site options we reached click here

To view myths and facts on the Project click here

FAQs

Agriculture
Buffer Zones
Catchment & Loads
Climate Change
Community
Consultation
Costs
Flooding
Future Extensions to the Plant
Modelling
Need
Odour, Noise and other Impacts
Other WwTPs
Outfall
Planning
Population projections
Project Background
Other Project Issues
Risk
Sludge & Residual Waste
Technology, Pipeline & Size
Timeline
Tourism
Traffic and Roads
Wastewater & Wastewater treatment

1. Agriculture

Q. What process was used to determine the land parcels, which are in prime agricultural areas?

A. The study area has been determined with reference to the Greater Dublin Strategic Drainage Study (GDSDS) and the subsequent Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA). A key recommendation of the GDSDS Final Strategy as amended by its SEA was for a single regional wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) to be located in North County Dublin with the treated effluent to be discharged to the marine environment of the Irish Sea.

The GDSDS also made recommendations on the existing foul drainage catchments that should be diverted, either in full or in part, to the proposed regional WWTP. These recommendations informed the initial selection of the study area, which included North County Dublin, the foul drainage catchments of Blanchardstown, the north city area (Finglas to Howth), the Lucan/Clondalkin foul drainage catchment in South County Dublin, the drainage catchment of Leixlip WWTP, and the County Meath towns of Ashbourne, Ratoath, Kilbride, Dunboyne, and Clonee.

The Study Area was then refined to omit the area north of Balbriggan following consideration of the topography in this area of north County Dublin, the location and extent of the Balbriggan/Skerries Shellfish Waters and the constraints imposed by these designated waters to locating a new marine outfall. A preliminary screening assessment was undertaken in order to identify a number of suitable land parcels within which a proposed Regional WWTP could potentially be located and to identify marine outfall locations and transfer pipeline corridors for associated infrastructure in the northern part of the Greater Dublin Area. The ASA Phase One – Preliminary Screening assessment was undertaken as a step by step process as set out below.

Step 1 – Determine the approximate required treatment capacity at design year horizon of the Regional WWTP and the load centres from which wastewater could be transferred to the WWTP;
Step 2 – Determine the area of land required to accommodate the proposed Regional WWTP;
Step 3 – Constraints Consultation with statutory bodies and general public to assist in the identification of constraints within the Study Area;
Step 4 – Map potential constraints based on environmentally designated areas and other screening criteria and submissions received following the Constraints Consultation;
Step 5 – Apply appropriate buffer zones to sensitive receptors;
Step 6 – Examination of available residual lands not subject to constraints for land parcels of suitable size;
Step 7 – Assess the identified land parcels with respect to Planning Permissions granted but not yet constructed in their vicinity;
Step 8 – Examination of constraint mapping to identify areas not subject to constraints for the possible location for a treated effluent marine outfall and to identify potential transfer pipeline corridors
Step 9 – Assess the identified land parcels in terms of their proximity and accessibility to the identified load centres, feasible outfall locations, and transfer pipeline corridors;
Step 10 – Assessment of the remaining land parcels under high level defined engineering and design constraints; and
Step 11 – Compile a shortlist of suitable land parcels and potential transfer pipeline corridors not subject to the constraints listed above.

The deliverable from the preliminary screening process is the ASA Phase One – Preliminary Screening Outcomes Report, which documents the preliminary screening process and compiles a short list of land parcels of suitable size within which the proposed Regional WWTP might be located and identifies potential marine outfall locations and transfer pipeline corridors to take forward for detailed assessment under a range of environmental and technical criteria in Phase Two of the ASA methodology.

Q. How are you considering the effect on agriculture?

A. An agronomist has been appointed to the project to consider possible impacts on agriculture.

Q. Why are you ignoring the fact we are the biggest horticulture producer in Ireland? Why are you willing to risk this industry with a giant sewage treatment plant? One leakage or spill will close down horticulture in Fingal

A. We appreciate fully that horticulture is a big local industry producing a significant proportion of the national vegetable crop. The Project Team has hired a specialist agronomist to assess any impact on agriculture/horticulture from the project, from an early stage. Potential impacts on agriculture and horticulture were identified by the Project Team as soon as the locations of the land parcels became apparent during the preliminary screening stage.

A detailed assessment has been undertaken by the Agronomist as part of the Alternative Site Assessment (ASA) process. Relevant data has been used both in the selection of the sites within the land parcels and in the assessment process. Details of this assessment, including land quality, details of crop production figures and values obtained from the relevant bodies, are provided in the ASA – Phase 2 Agronomy report included as Appendix 11 of this report. This assessment will continue as part of the Environmental Impact Assessment on the preferred site, once identified.

Furthermore, consultation has been ongoing throughout the process with relevant bodies including the Food Safety Authority of Ireland, Bord Bia and Teagasc, as well as with representatives of the local crop growers. It should be noted that during normal operation, there will be no physical impact from the WwTP on the surrounding agricultural land. In addition, while there will be some temporary impacts during construction along the pipeline routes, final design and construction will minimise the potential for any unknown impact along the route.

Q. Why are you willing to risk this industry with a giant sewage treatment plant? 1 leak or spill will close down horticulture in Fingal.

A. Risk analysis has been considered in relation to the site options and will be undertaken in further detail as part of the Environmental Impact Assessment undertaken on the preferred site, once identified.

The objective of the project is to identify a location for a regional WwTP in the northern part of the Greater Dublin Area. The risks identified in the stakeholder submissions are common to all site options and therefore a detailed risk assessment will be undertaken on the preferred site, once identified.

2 Buffer Zones

Q. How were the buffer zones decided upon?

A. In the Alternative Sites Assessment Phase 1: Preliminary Screening Outcomes Report, nine potential land parcels have been identified within which the regional WwTP may be located. For the Constraints screening process, the Project Team established a minimum buffer zone distance of 300m from sensitive receptors, which was based on the limited available guidance from the Fingal County Council Development Plan 2011-2017 and the Environmental Protection Agency, which is listed below and on professional judgment. The aim was to select a suitable distance as a screening tool, which would assist in minimising potential impacts on the sensitive receptors. The potential impacts considered when determining the extent of the buffer zone screening distance were odour and noise. Ultimately, the potential impacts of odour and noise on surrounding sensitive receptors from the selected site will be assessed against detailed odour and noise modelling undertaken as part of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the project.

The figure for the 100m buffer zone between wastewater treatment plants (WwTPs) and surrounding forms of development is contained in Objective WT10 of the Fingal Development Plan 2011-2017, which seeks to:

‘Establish a buffer zone around all Wastewater Treatment Plans suitable to the size and operation of each plant. The buffer zone should not be less than 100m from the odour producing units.’

The requirement to establish buffer zones around WwTPs is considered to be necessary to ensure that there are sufficient separation distances established between WwTPs and certain forms of development, in particular sensitive receptors such as residences, schools, and nursing homes. Appropriate separation distances will ensure that sensitive receptors are protected and safeguarded from undue odour and, to a lesser extent, noise pollution.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has published guidance on appropriate distances between WwTPs and existing development in the Wastewater Treatment Manuals: Treatment Systems for Small Communities, Business, Leisure Centres, and Hotels. This Manual provides recommendations for distances between existing development and treatment systems of varying capacity between 10 population equivalent (PE) and 161 PE. The largest treatment system considered in the Manual is that with a capacity in excess of 161 PE, for which a distance of 50m is required to be established from the system to existing development.

Fingal County Council used the guidance in the Manual to devise an appropriate distance between WwTPs and adjacent forms of development, which forms the basis of the minimum 100m buffer zone included in Objective WT10. Importantly, the 100m buffer zone is a minimum requirement only and Objective WT10 allows for larger buffer zones to be established depending on the size and operation of each plant. Back to Top

3. Catchment & Loads

Q. How much of the waste is coming from Fingal?

A. Quantities of waste from different catchments will depend on the year of commissioning the plant and the diversions of loads. In the opening year 2020, it is estimated that 65% of the load to the plant will be generated in Fingal.

Q. How much of the North Dublin Catchment is in Fingal?

A. Approximately 15% of the load from the North Dublin catchment in the year 2020 is attributed to Fingal.

Q. How is the population equivalent (PE) determined?

A. Wastewater treatment plants are described in terms of their designed treatment capacity, which is generally expressed as population equivalents (PE). PE is a measurement of organic biodegradable load, with 1PE = 60g of BOD/day (BOD is the 5 day biochemical oxygen demand). One person is considered to generate 60g of BOD/day. Only population connected to the sewerage system is accounted for in the population equivalent estimates. Allowances for discharge from industrial and commercial developments are also included in the total PE figure.

4. Climate Change

Q. What information did the project team use to study the regional impacts of climate change?

A. The following documents were assessed in terms of climate change as part of the Greater Dublin Strategic Drainage Study:

Q. How will drought impact the project? Will low summer flows negatively impact rivers?

A. Lower summer river flows that may result from the potential impacts of climate change will not impact on the proposed wastewater treatment plant (WwTP) or its proposed discharge of treated effluent to the Irish Sea.

The Greater Dublin Strategic Drainage Study (GDSDS) Final Strategy Report and its subsequent Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) recommended that a single regional WwTP be located in North County Dublin, with the treated effluent to be discharged to the marine environment of the Irish Sea. The selection of this option was a result of climate change considerations (e.g. lower summer river flows) regarding the ability of inland water bodies (rivers and lakes) to accept discharges from WwTPs in the future.

Q. Why are you not considering Carbon footprint- the longest pipe option will have the biggest impact on the environment.

A. Carbon footprint has been considered at a high level at this stage of the process. This was to allow comparison, using a common currency (CO2), of the currently available options. It will be further considered in the identification of the preferred site option. In the current report, the detail of the assessment of the carbon footprint is contained in Appendix 16.

Q. How can pumping raw sewage across the county be the best option for treating waste? Surely treating it at source makes the most economic environmental and community sense?

A. An outfall to a marine environment will be required, regardless of where the wastewater is treated. The local rivers and streams across the GDA are too small to be able to absorb the cumulative impacts of treated effluent from a large number of smaller plants. The predicted impacts of climate change and the possibility of stricter surface/ground water legislation in the future, also rule out a number of small local plants and confirm the need for the one regional plant, capable of treating wastewater from 700,000 population equivalent.

5. Community

Q. Will community benefit be built into the project?

A. The project will be assessed under Planning and Development legislation relating to strategic forms of infrastructure, which allows for community gain to be incorporated into the project. Fingal County Council welcomes recommendations and suggestions from members of the public during future consultation opportunities on forms of community benefit that could be facilitated through the provision of the project.

Q. Why have you not taken community burden in Lusk into account? Lusk has all the waste of Dublin in the ground in Balleally- that will be there forever. Why have you not taken into account that Lusk had done its fair share for Fingal and Dublin? We treat our own waste in Lusk – why should we host a giant sewerage treatment plant that we don’t need, that treats waste that is not produced here?

A. The issue of community burden/ community overburdening is assessed indirectly by measuring the impact on environmental parameters such as air quality, ecology, noise etc. The logic is that by ensuring the impact on these parameters is as low as possible (or mitigated when unavoidable,) that any corresponding impact on the local communities that cannot be avoided completely is minimised.

Potential impacts on the community from this project have been assessed in a number of different ways. Initially, the entire County of Fingal was examined for potential constraints. Part of this involved identifying all sensitive receptors (which include residences, businesses, schools nursing homes etc…) and mapping them. The potential sites for the proposed Wastewater Treatment Plant were chosen to be at least 300m from any such sensitive receptor. This is greater than the minimum distance of 100m set out by the Fingal County Council Development Plan (2011-2017). From these constraints and buffer zones, potential land parcels were identified (these land parcels were greater in size than the footprint required for the proposed Waste water Treatment Plant). From this, each individual land parcel was examined further, and 9 potential sites within them were identified as suitable.

All environmental impacts will be assessed in a further detail on the final preferred site in order to ensure the local environment in which people live is, in as much as possible, unaffected by a development. This is examined as part of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).

Burdens and impacts on the community/ communities are taken into consideration by assessing the following criteria during the EIA on the preferred site option:

Socio Economic: This will include economic activity, social patterns, land-use, employment, health and safety, settlement patters, and will include the impact on the community if the project does not go ahead.

Air Quality, Odour, Noise and Vibration: This section will include potential odour, noise and vibration during construction phase and during the lifetime of the project.

Landscape and Visual Impact: This will include the character and context of the landscape, views and prospects and should describe both historical and manmade landscapes.

Cultural Heritage and Material Assets: Architectural, archaeological and cultural heritage are described here including folklore, tradition and history; architecture and settlements; monuments and features; and the designed landscape. In terms of material assets, natural resources of economic value, buildings and structures as well as infrastructures are important.

Soils, Geology, Hydrology and Hydrogeology: In terms of soils and geology, this section should describe agricultural capability and engineering characteristics, presence of mineral soils, peats, fens and estuarine sediments, surficial bedrock deposits, faulting, weathering as well as chemical characteristics. In terms of hydrology, the presence of aquifers, ground, surface, estuarine or marine water should be identified. The physical, chemical and biotic aspects of the water should be described, along with its beneficial uses.

Climate: Climatic factors will include information on CFC’s, acid rain, thermal pollution, climate change (both macro and micro) as well as pollution transport.

Terrestrial, Aquatic and Marine Ecology: This will include habitats and habitat requirements, breeding/feeding/roosting areas, population stability and management, critical resources, protection status, seasonality, succession and existing management.

Where avoidance is not possible, mitigation measures will be put in place to reduce impact and the residual impact is quantified. It is then up to the independent statutory bodies (i.e. An Bord Pleanala and or the Environmental Protection Agency) to determine if the residual impact is acceptable.

Q. You received 10,000 submissions. How have you changed the original plan to reflect the community objections?

A. There were a significant number of submissions received regarding horticulture and agriculture intensity in the area. As a result the project team has employed an agronomist at an earlier stage of the process than scheduled originally to assist in the identification of the emerging preferred site options at this stage. Also, as a result of consultation we became aware of a larger number of groups than we were aware of and we have met with all of these groups. Where site specific issues were identified in stakeholder submissions, these have been studied by a relevant specialist to ensure they are included in the assessment.

The issues raised during the public consultation process have been identified in the Consultation Reports (available on the Project website). The issues raised to date have been responded to in the Alternative Sites Assessment – Phase One Preliminary Screening Outcomes Report published in October 2011 and in the Alternative Sites Assessment and Route Selection Report (Phase 2): Emerging Preferred Sites and Routes published in May 2012.

Q. Why have you not considered health risks associated with facilities of such a scale?

A. A health impact screening assessment will be included as part of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the project. Modern day wastewater treatment plants, operated with appropriate safeguards ensure there are no significant health risks to the general population.

Q. Why have you not considered smaller sewage plants in a number of locations?

A. The drainage system in Dublin is a regional system. A majority of the flow discharging from Fingal goes to Ringsend (approx 70%) for treatment. The most economic and sustainable solution is a single large regional plant in north Co Dublin, to augment the other Regional wastewater treatment plant at Ringsend

The option of having a large number of smaller wastewater treatment plants rather than one regional plant was given a lot of consideration as far back as 2005, as part of the Greater Dublin Strategic Drainage Study (GDSDS). The issue was considered again in 2008 when the strategic Environment Assessment (SEA) report was published. Both the GDSDS and the SEA reports confirm that one large regional plant will have a lesser impact on the environment than would a large number of smaller plants discharging to ground/surface waters across the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) and the decision was made to build one regional Wastewater Treatment Plant.

The local rivers and streams across the GDA are too small to be able to absorb the cumulative impacts of treated effluent from a large number of smaller plants. The predicted impacts of climate change and the possibility of stricter surface/ground water legislation in the future, also rule out a number of small local plants and confirm the need for the one regional plant, capable of treating wastewater from 700,000 population equivalent.

Q. We treat our own waste in Lusk- why should we host a giant sewage treatment plant that we don’t need that treats waste that is not produced here?

A. The majority of the wastewater that will be diverted to this new plant is currently discharging to Ringsend Wastewater Treatment Plant (WwTP) and a majority of the flows (approximately 70%) to the new plant will come from the Fingal County Council area.

This plant is a Regional WwTP and will form part of the overall drainage system for the Greater Dublin Area (GDA). This proposed regional plant is needed to supplement the existing Ringsend WwTP by year 2020 approximately. Currently 70% of the flow from Fingal is treated in Ringsend.

Future jobs and new industries and commercial enterprises are dependent on the new Regional WwTP which will work in conjunction with Ringsend and all the other Wastewater Treatment Plants in the Region.

Q. Why are you not treating waste where it is produced?

Q. Already in negative equity- what will a giant sewage treatment plant do the value of our homes?

A. An appropriately constructed and well operated plant should have no impact on property values.

The Project Team has established a minimum buffer zone distance of 300m from sensitive receptors, to minimize potential impacts on homes and businesses. The potential impacts considered when determining the extent of the buffer zone screening distance were; odour and noise.

Ultimately, the potential impacts of odour and noise on surrounding sensitive receptors from the selected site will be assessed by specialists, against detailed odour and noise modeling, undertaken as part of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the project. Furthermore, landscaping to minimise the visual impact of the plant will be put in place.

6. Consultation

Q. How was the Project Team chosen?

A. The Project Team was chosen following a comprehensive public procurement process. The retained consultants satisfied Fingal County Council that their staff met the required educational, qualification, and relevant experience requirements to manage and deliver the project. Details of the consultants involved can be found in the project team page on this website.

Q. Have the Department of Health been consulted on this project?

A. The Department of Health do not need to be officially notified about this project. However, Fingal County Council is open to engaging with all interested stakeholders on this project.

Q. When are you having a consultation meeting in Lusk?

A. The Project Team is always open to meeting with stakeholders. Fingal County Council has endeavoured from the start of this project to have an accessible, meaningful and accountable public consultation. One of the elements of accessibility is to ensure that all stakeholders have the opportunity to engage with the Project team. Our recent Open Day meetings were held, therefore, at the headquarters of Fingal County Council in Swords as the Atrium there has space that is convenient for public engagement and the area is central, fully accessible, with easy options for transport access.

The Project Team has had a number of meetings with local Councillors, representatives of landowners and community groups and will continue to be available for such meetings. The Project Team is willing to meet with any residents who request a meeting. The venue for meetings will continue to be the Fingal County Council headquarters in Swords.

Q. When will I have a further opportunity to be consulted on in regard to the project?

A. Consultation is an essential element of Greater Dublin Drainage’s development and the Project Team are committed to engaging with stakeholders. For more details about future consultation opportunities, please see our consultation page.

Q. How will the consultation feedback be considered by the Project Team?

A. Feedback received during the public consultation process will be reviewed and considered by the entire Project Team. For each stage of public consultation held to date, a Consultation Report has been produced that documents stakeholder feedback and concerns. These reports have been published on the website in our project reports page.

Q. Have potential landowners been notified?

A. Land Registry, Registry of Deeds, and Valuation Office searches were undertaken to identify, insofar as possible, the owners and occupiers of all of the lands included in the nine potential land parcels.

The primary purpose of this was to be in a position to notify as many of the owners and occupiers as possible upon publication of these land parcels on 10th October 2011. It was recognised that, given the number and extents of the sites involved, it was unlikely that every owner or occupier would be identified and informed by that date. Since the 10th October 2011, Fingal County Council and its consultants have been meeting landowners and occupiers of all sites and this process will continue. It is envisaged that any outstanding owners/occupiers of lands will be identified and contacted as part of this process.

Q. Has there been any consultation with management in WwTPs in other European countries?

A. International best practice will be applied to the design and operation of the WwTP.

Q. Does the consultation process comply with the Aarhus Convention?

Yes, the consultation process complies with and even exceeds the requirements set out in the Aarhus Convention. Article 6(3) states that the public participation process should include different phases with reasonable timeframes (which have been provided by Greater Dublin Drainage), allowing the public to be informed (which has been and will be achieved by Greater Dublin Drainage), and for the public to participate effectively during the decision-making process (which has been and will be achieved by Greater Dublin Drainage).

Q. How long did the Constraints Consultation run for and how was it publicised?

A. The Constraints Consultation ran for four weeks, from 30th May to 24th June 2011 and was publicised through advertising, media coverage, posters, and letters and emails to interested stakeholders, including elected members. Since the public launch of the project, a lo-call phone line, email service, and postal service have been made available to answer any questions or discuss concerns with the members of the public. In addition to these opportunities for public participation, four Open Days were held in various County Buildings at locations throughout Fingal.

Q. How long did the ASA Phase One Consultation run for and how was it publicised?

A The second phase of non-statutory consultation ran for eight weeks from 18th November to 2nd December 2011 and was publicised through advertising, media coverage, posters, and letters and emails to interested stakeholders, including elected members. Since the public launch of the project, a lo-call phone line, email service, and postal service have been made available to answer any questions or discuss concerns with the members of the public. In addition to these opportunities for public participation, four Open Days were held in the Fingal County Council Office in Swords and a brochure was made available.

Q. How long did the ASA Phase Two Consultation run for and how was it publicised?

A. The third phase of non-statutory consultation ran for eight weeks from 14th May to 6th July 2012 and was publicised through advertising, media coverage, posters, and letters and emails to interested stakeholders, including elected members. Since the public launch of the project, a lo-call phone line, email service, and postal service have been made available to answer any questions or discuss concerns with the members of the public. In addition to these opportunities for public participation, four Open Days were held in the Fingal County Council Office in Swords and a brochure was made available.

Q. What public consultation has taken place to date and what consultation will take place in the future?

A. The public consultation that was carried out by Fingal County Council in May and June 2011, during October and November 2011, as well as from May to July of 2012 is non-statutory consultation and does not affect your rights to object to the project when the final preferred site is identified and a planning application is submitted to An Bord Pleanála. At this stage An Bord Pleanála will carry out its own statutory public consultation on the project. Fingal County Council is committed to consulting with all interested parties at the very earliest stage of the Greater Dublin Drainage Project and to give all parties the opportunity to have their say on the project before any decisions are made.

Q. What is happening now?

The ASA Phase Two non-statutory public consultation on the three emerging preferred site options has now closed. This consultation ran from 14^th May until 6^th July 2012.

A “site option” includes an approximately 20Ha site, associated orbital pipeline routes from the load centres to the wastewater treatment plant (WwTP), pipeline routes from the WwTP to the coast, marine pipeline routes, and a marine outfall location. A preferred site option will be announced late spring/early summer 2013.

Q. What are the next steps in the process?

A. Following the close of the ASA Phase Two Consultation, the Technical Team will move towards selecting a preferred site and publish the Alternative Sites Assessment and Route Selection Report, Phase Four: Preferred Site and Routes.

Once the location for the project has been determined, a complete assessment of any potential environmental impact will be carried out through further environmental studies and a complete Environmental Impact Assessment on the preferred site, the associated pipelines, and marine outfall location.

An application for approval of the development will then be made directly to An Bord Pleanála. There will be a full statutory consultation process as part of the submission of the planning application.

These future consultation opportunities can be seen in the Project Road Map.
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7. Costs

Q. Who is paying for Greater Dublin Drainage?

Greater Dublin Drainage is a project that is financed by the Department of the Environment, Heritage, and Local Government’s Water Service Investment Programme (2010-2012), which will support the goals and targets of the policy document, Building Ireland’s Smart Economy.

Among other items, the Water Service Investment Programme aims to rehabilitate existing water supply networks, repair and replace existing water mains, and to improve drinking water and wastewater treatment standards.

Q. What is the total cost of the project?

A. The total cost of the project has not been determined to date. The full cost of the project will not be determined until the locations of all three elements of the project are confirmed, along with the technology that will be used at the wastewater treatment works. The cost is likely to be in the hundreds of millions of Euros and is likely to be less than €500 million.

The €2.5billion figure that has been attributed to the project refers to all the wastewater projects in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) identified by the Greater Dublin Strategic Drainage Study (GDSDS) in 2005. It includes for the upgrading of all wastewater treatment plants in the GDA to their ultimate capacity, including the upgrading of the Ringsend WwTP and the Shanganagh Bray WwTP; it also includes for significant upgrading of the existing drainage networks across the entire GDSDS study area and operational and maintenance costs for a 30 year period.

Q. Why are you still considering the most expensive option to treat sewage?

A. We are seeking the most economic and sustainable solution to treat wastewater for this generation and for generations to come. The most sustainable and economically beneficial option from a whole life cost perspective is the one that will be chosen

Q. What is the projected operating cost breakdown?

A. This will be examined as the project progresses.

Q. How will Fingal charge for treating sewage generated outside Fingal?

A. There will be no financial benefit to Fingal County Council, as the scheme will be operated on a cost break even basis. A portion of the capital and running costs will be allocated to those local authorities discharging to the proposed wastewater treatment plant. The charge levied to the local authorities will be proportionate to their use.

Q. Has this cost sharing agreement been contractually agreed?

A. The cost sharing model will be developed as part of the Water Pricing Policy Report, which will be completed by the project’s engineering consultants. A similar model of cost sharing is currently in place in the Dublin Region with various Local Authorities for water treatment.

Q. Will there be a financial benefit to Fingal County Council for having the project located it its area?

Q. Why are you still considering the longest outflow pipe when cheaper options are available?

A. An outfall to a marine environment will be required, regardless of which of the three emerging preferred site options becomes the preferred option on which a planning application will be made.

Q. Why are you not taking tax payer’s money into account?

A. Be assured we are taking tax payers money into account and are seeking the most economic and sustainable solution to treat wastewater.

Q. Why have you spent so much money on this process and still don’t know where the load centre and outflow pipe will be?

A. We know the load centres are in Blanchardstown, the North Fringe Sewer and the North Dublin Drainage system. Approximately 70% of the flow from Fingal is being treated at Ringsend. This flow will be diverted to the new proposed Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant.

Two outflow options are being considered and the most sustainable and economic option will be selected.

Q. If you were a private business spending your own money, would you chose the longest or shortest pipe?

A. The most sustainable and economically beneficial option from a whole life cost perspective is the one that will be chosen.

Q. If you were a family owned business spending your own money, would you have spent €7M without even knowing what sort of plant you are building i.e. will be tertiary treatment? If so in what form?

A. The key issue, for establishing the appropriate level of treatment, is to identify the effluent discharge quality standard required to maintain the existing quality of the receiving water. The level of treatment required to achieve this effluent discharge standard is then identified. For this project a minimum of secondary treatment is required and tertiary treatment (i.e. the requirement for UV disinfection) is being examined. The water quality standards set in various legislative enactments, (e.g. Water Framework Directive,) for the waters off the coast of North Dublin will be the determining factor on what level of treatment will ultimately be provided at the plant.
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8. Flooding

Q. How will flood risks be managed?

A. Existing and predicted flooding have been taken into account in the identification of the shortlisted land parcels.

The proposed Regional WwTP will not be located in a flood plain. The constraints mapping included 1 in 100 year flood mapping from the Fingal East Meath Flood Risk Assessment and Management (FEMFRAM) project and all shortlisted land parcels do not encroach on these areas.

Run-off from the proposed WwTP will be attenuated to ‘green-field’ run-off, i.e. the run-off due to rainfall on the undeveloped field.

Q. If combined sewers are part of the infrastructure supplying the new WwTP, how is it expected that heavy storm inflows will be handled?

A. Where combined sewers are part of the existing network, it is normal practice to construct storm water holding tanks at pumping stations and WwTP sites.

Q. What will be the impact to the coast if flooding occurs? Will untreated waste be discharged if this occurs?

A. As storm water holding tanks are generally constructed at WwTPs and pumping stations, impacts during flood events are managed. It is normal practice for storm water storage tanks to be designed, following risk-based assessment, to retain storm flows from storms with a specified return period dependent on the assimilative capacity of the receiving waters. Storm flows in excess of this volume will overflow.

Q. How will run-off from hard surfaces at the WwTP be managed?

A. Solid hard landscaping will not be required throughout the 20ha site as part of the site will be soft landscaped. SUDS principles will be employed to restrict surface water run-off post development to greenfield run-off rates.
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9. Future Extensions to the Plant

Q. Will the WwTP be expanded post-2040 to deal with growth in Dublin as part of this proposal?

A. The current design horizon for the project is 2040, designs generated at this stage will accommodate all expected flows and loads up to this date. Any extension post-2040 will require further, separate EIS and studies.

10. Modelling

Q. What modelling was used on the project?

A. The sewer modelling undertaken during the GDSDS study was as follows:

19 separate foul/combined sewer catchments;
8 fully integrated river & associated urban piped storm water networks; and
25 additional urban piped storm water networks associated with other rivers & streams in the overall study area.

The modelling software used was InfoWorks CS; version 4.56. Note: InfoWorks CS was originally developed by Wallingford Software. In 2009 MWH Soft bought Wallingford Software. MWH Soft has recently rebranded to become Innovyze. Back to Top

11. Need

Q. Why is Greater Dublin Drainage Needed?

Greater Dublin Drainage is needed to provide sustainable drainage and wastewater treatment for the Greater Dublin Area (GDA), to meet current and future economic, industrial and residential needs, to protect the environment and to meet the EU Water Framework Directive standards. The Greater Dublin Drainage Project is essential for the future long-term social and economic development of the GDA and the Fingal County Council area, in particular. The majority of the flows to the plant will come from the Fingal County Council area.

In 2001 Dublin City Council, in partnership with the other County Councils in the Greater Dublin Area, commissioned the Greater Dublin Strategic Drainage Study (GDSDS). Among its many recommendations, the GDSDS recommended maximising the capacity and potential of all of the existing drainage systems and treatment plants in the GDA (including the Ringsend Wastewater Treatment Plant), which is currently being undertaken.

The GDSDS also highlighted that a significant shortfall in wastewater treatment capacity would still exist in the region within the lifetime of the plan, even after all of these improvements had been made. The GDSDS Strategy (as amended by the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of 2008) recommended the construction of a new regional wastewater treatment plant in the northern part of the GDA to make up the shortfall. This plant will not only provide treatment capacity for certain existing wastewater flows which will be diverted to it, but also the additional capacity vital for the future social and economic development of the region. The majority of the flows to the plant will come from the Fingal County Council area.

Fingal County Council has invited all stakeholders, including the general public, to get involved in the Project from the start, so that the most appropriate locations are chosen for this vital new wastewater infrastructure.

Even with absolutely no further development of any kind in Fingal (including schools, healthcare, commercial premises, or industry, for example), the population of Fingal increased from 239,992 in the 2006 Census to 273,051 in the 2011 Census. This increase of 13.8% is almost double the national growth rate and such growth requires planned strategic infrastructure to support it.

Q. With the economic downturn, won’t the expanded Ringsend Plant have sufficient capability to continue to take wastewater from Fingal?

A. By 2020, Ringsend will have reached its maximum treatment capacity of 2.1million PE. Without another plant to divert to, Ringsend will become overloaded.

12. Odour, Noise and other Impacts

Q. Will there be any harmful emissions or chemicals discharged into the air from the WwTP?

A. There are no known health risks to general population posed by the operation of WwTPs. All gases produced during the treatment processes will be treated on site before venting to the atmosphere.

Q. Will there be odour from the sludge during transportation?

A. Appropriately treated sewage sludge is odourless.

Q. How will odour and noise issues be addressed?

A. Odour and noise control are currently being addressed as part of the environmental studies. Odour and noise modelling will be undertaken at a later date for the preferred site. Odour and noise limits at the boundary of the site will be set in the EIS and these will have to be achieved during construction and operation of the plant.

Q. Are the prevailing winds being considered?

A. Prevailing winds will be assessed as part of the environmental assessments. A detailed odour model will be taken out on the preferred site in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).

Q. Will there be an impact on marine life and beaches?

A. In general operation there will be no effects on beaches as the treated effluent standards will have to achieve water quality standards at all beaches. However, studies are underway regarding potential impacts on marine life and fisheries.

Q. Will mosquitoes or flies be a problem?

A. Mosquitoes are not generally a problem at WwTPs in Ireland. There have not been any incidents with mosquitoes at WwTPs operated by Fingal County Council. However, the impact of mosquitoes and flies will be assessed in the EIS.

Q. Will tourism and amenity be considered?

A. Tourism and amenity are both aspects that will be examined under the ASA Phase 2 Report.

Q. Will there be backwash onto local beaches? Are tidal surges being considered?

A. Tidal flow analysis forms part of the 3D hydrodynamic modelling that is currently ongoing for the outfall study areas. Results will be incorporated into the forthcoming project reports.

Q. Are there EU guidelines that must be considered for the proximity of WwTPs to residential areas?

A. There are no E.U. Standards for the distance of WwTPs to residential areas.

Q. What will the impacts be from construction?

A. The extent of potential disruption will not be known until the preferred route and site have been identified. However, all construction impacts will be mitigated.

Q. Will a number of smaller plants cause less environmental damage than one large plant?

A. The option of having a large number of smaller wastewater treatment plants rather than one regional plant was given a lot of consideration as far back as 2005, as part of the Greater Dublin Strategic Drainage Study (GDSDS). The issue was considered again in 2008 when the strategic Environment Assessment (SEA) report was published. Both the GDSDS and the SEA reports confirm that one large regional plant will have a lesser impact on the environment than would a large number of smaller plants discharging to ground/surface waters across the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) and the decision was made to build one regional WwTP. The local rivers and streams across the GDA are too small to be able to absorb the cumulative impacts of treated effluent from a large number of smaller plants. The predicted impacts of climate change and the possibility of stricter surface/ground water legislation in the future also rule out a number of small local plants and confirm the need for the one regional plant, capable of treating wastewater from 700,000 population equivalent.

13. Other WwTPs

Q. What do land-locked countries do with their waste?

A. Treated effluent in land locked countries is generally discharged, following appropriate treatment, to surface watercourses.

Q. Where can I find information about other WwTPs in Ireland?

A. Details on the environmental performance of WwTPs in Ireland can be found on the EPA’s website.

Q. Can the Ringsend WwTP be expanded instead of building this proposed plant?

A. No, the expansion of the Ringsend plant is limited by the available land.

Q. Why are local WwTPs not being upgraded and expanded to treat local waste?

A. It is a recommendation of the GDSDS that all existing WwTPs be upgraded to their ultimate capacity. Available land and receiving water constraints at all existing plants limits their expansion potential and as a result a new regional plant will also be required.

Q. Where can I find more information about odour from other WwTPs in Fingal?

A. There are eight wastewater treatment plants (WwTPs) operated by Fingal County Council. These are at Naul, Garristown, Oldtown, Ballyboughal, Toberburr, Portrane, Swords, and Malahide. Additionally, there is one WWTP, located at Barnageeragh, which is operated privately and regulated by Fingal County Council.

In relation to the WwTPs operated by Fingal County Council, there have not been any complaints received by Fingal County Council in recent years for WwTPs at Naul, Garristown, Oldtown, Ballyboughal, Tobberburr, and Portrane.

Complaints have been received in relation to Malahide and Swords WwTPs. In relation to Malahide WWTP, up until October 2011 there were two complaints received, while no complaints had been recorded in preceding years. Of these two complaints, one complaint related to noise nuisance and the other to odour nuisance.

In relation to the Swords WwTP, up until October 2011, five complaints had been received by Fingal County Council in relation to odour. For 2010, thirty-five complaints were received, with thirty about odour and five about graffiti at the complex. For 2009, there were fifty-two complaints received about odour.

In relation to Barnageeragh WwTP, for 2011, to the end of October, 11 complaints were received by Fingal County Council in relation to odour. There were no complaints for 2010, while there were five complaints in 2009.

Q. What is Ringsend WwTP treating currently?

A. Ringsend WwTP currently treats 1.8 million population equivalents (population equivalent is determined based on current population figures and an equivalent of population that is attributed to the industries that will also send wastewater to the new regional wastewater treatment plant). When extended to its full extent, the Ringsend WWTP will treat the equivalent of 2.1 million population equivalents.

The Ringsend WwTP will reach its maximum treatment capacity of 2.1 million PE by 2020. To ensure that the Ringsend WwTP does not become overloaded post 2020 it will be necessary to divert part of its contributing catchment to another treatment facility. In order to achieve this, a new WWTP in north county Dublin will need to be commissioned by 2020.

14. Outfall

Q. What are the details for the Southern and Northern Outfalls?

A. The process of designing the outfall pipework is still ongoing, so the following answers remain preliminary estimates.

Southern Outfall: it is necessary to take this outfall out beyond Ireland’s Eye; therefore, from the high water mark on Portmarnock Beach this outfall will have to extend out between 5km and 7km. The pipe will have to be laid under the sea bed in a trench with a cover to top of pipe of between 2 – 2.5m. The outfall pipe will be in the order of 1.8 – 2m in diameter. Should this have to be laid in a tunnel, the cover to top of pipe will be deeper.

Northern Outfall – it is proposed that this outfall will have to extend out at least 1.6 – 2km from the high water mark along the coast. The pipe will be laid in a dredged trench with cover to top of pipe between 2 – 2.5m and the outfall pipe will be in the order of 1.8 – 2m in diameter.

Q. Why are the outfall study areas on the Study Area maps not contiguous with the Shellfish Waters?

A. The study area boundaries are indicative only. The eastern-most red line was drawn just to the east of Lambay Island to ensure this island and its environmental designations were included in the study area. The eastern-most green line was drawn along the edge of the OSi grid markings to delineate a seaward extent/boundary of the potential outfall areas. The Shellfish Waters are as the designations set out by the Department of Environment, Community, and Local Government.

Q. Why was a third outfall at Portrane not considered?

A. The designated Malahide Shellfish Waters located off the coast in the Portrane/Donabate area hinders an outfall pipe in this location.

The marine outfall study areas as shown in Figures 4.10 and 4.11 in the Alternative Sites Assessment – Phase One, Preliminary Screening Outcomes Report are being assessed in their entirety to determine the optimum location for the marine outfall.

15. Planning

Q. Will an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) be carried out on all land parcels and potential sites?

A. No, an EIS will only be completed on the preferred site, once it is selected.

Q. What are the next steps in the process?

A. There will be two more public consultation opportunities before the site and route locations are chosen. These will be followed by the statutory consultation phase as part of the approval application to An Bord Pleanála.

These future consultation opportunities can be seen in the Project Road Map.

Q. How will experts prioritise and rank site selection criteria?

A. This has yet to be determined. This is currently being examined by the Project Team through refinement of previous experience in light of the constraints identified in the study area and by taking on board feedback and submissions received during the first stage of public consultation, the Constraints Consultation, which was undertaken between May and June 2011.

Q. Will the existing gas pipeline near Tyrrelstown need to be moved?

A. No, there will be no requirement to divert the gas pipeline at Tyrrelstown.

Q. Can you please clarify what the three reserve land parcels are for?

A. These three land parcels performed less favourably than others on completion of the pre-screening assessment. However, they remain viable alternatives (albeit at present not preferred) for the location of the regional WwTP.

Q. What does Material Assets in the SEA refer to?

A. Material Assets is listed as a topic / area to be considered when assessing and determining impacts from a proposal under the EIA legislation. The EPA in their Guidelines on Information to be contained in an EIS identifies ‘natural resources of economic value’ as being a topic that should be reviewed under Material Assets. The Guidelines define these as ‘resources that are valued and that are intrinsic to specific places are called ‘material assets.’ They may be of either human or natural origin and the value may arise for either economic or cultural reasons. Examples of natural resources of economic value include assimilative capacity of air and water, non-renewable resources (e.g. minerals, soils, quarries, and mines), or renewable resources (hydraulic head, wind exposure).’

Agriculture will likely be included as a topic within Material Assets and the impacts on agriculture from the project will be assessed appropriately at the EIA stage. However, if the site selected as the location for the WWTP is in agricultural use, the impact of the proposed development on that agricultural use will be considered and assessed. Additionally, assessment may also be made of the wider impact of the project on surrounding agriculture uses under the Material Assets topic.

16. Population Projections

Q. Have the population projections for the Project been reviewed in light of changes to economy and recent census data?

A review of the population figures has been undertaken for the project and shows that there is still a population increase in the area. A comparison of the projected 2011 population, based on the 2006 Census figures, and annual average percentage growth rates derived from the Regional Planning Guidelines target population figures for 2016, with the preliminary results from the 2011 Census is provided in Table 1 below.

Table 1

Council	2011 (as targeted by RPG)	2011 (from Preliminary Census Results)
Dublin City	534,090	525,383
Dun Laoghaire – Rathdown	207,922	206,995
Fingal	262,696	273,051
South Dublin	266,373	265,174
Sub-Total for Dublin Region	1,271,085	1,270,603
Kildare	209,000	209,955
Meath	178,601	184,034
Wicklow	143,983	136,448
Sub–Total for Mid –East Region	531,584	530,437
GDA Total	1,802,669	1,801,040

There is good agreement between the 2011 RPG targeted figures and preliminary census figures at regional level and in the GDA itself.

There is also reasonable agreement between the GDSDS estimated population for 2011 and the Preliminary Census 2011 results, as shown in Table 2 below.

Table 2

WwTP Catchment	GDSDS Population Estimate @ 2011	2011 Census
Ringsend	1,131,700	1,130,764
Shanganagh	118,353	93,829
Osberstown	64,366	76,001
Leixlip	53,927	58,118
Portrane	24,749	26,751
Malahide	14,454	13,039
Barnageeragh	37,228	31,020
Swords	45,187	48,828
Total	1,489,964	1,478,350

17. Project Background

Q. Where does the Greater Dublin Authority come from?

A. The Greater Dublin Area (GDA) comprises two Regional Authority areas, the Mid-East Regional Authority, which includes Meath, Kildare, and Wicklow County Councils and the Dublin Regional Authority, which includes Dublin City Council and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, Fingal, and South Dublin County Councils. The Regional Authorities were set up in 1994 under the Local Government Act 1991 (Regional Authorities) Establishment Order 1993.

The term Greater Dublin Area and the acronym “GDA” is most frequently used when discussing the Regional Planning Guidelines (RPGs), which have been prepared on a regional basis for the seven local authorities (referred to above) that comprise the GDA since 1999. The most current RPGs for the GDA are from 2010 to 2022.

The Greater Dublin Strategic Drainage Study (GDSDS) Final Strategy Report and its subsequent Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) were prepared in 2005 and 2008 respectively. These documents were prepared on behalf of the seven local authorities to guide the future provision of wastewater infrastructure in the GDA.

The current Greater Dublin Drainage initiative has been developed from the recommendations of these earlier documents. Greater Dublin Drainage aims to provide strategic drainage infrastructure that the GDA requires to continue to develop, both socially and economically. It is being led by Fingal County Council, on behalf of Dublin City Council, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, and South Dublin County Council, in partnership with Kildare and Meath County Councils. While Wicklow County Council is part of the GDA and contributed to the preparation of the GDSDS and SEA, it is not intended that the Greater Dublin Drainage project will take and treat wastewater from Wicklow County Council.

Q. How was the study area defined?

The Greater Dublin Strategic Drainage Study (GDSDS) Final Strategy Report and its subsequent Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) recommended that a single regional wastewater treatment plant (WwTP) be located in North County Dublin with the treated effluent to be discharged to the marine environment of the Irish Sea.

The GDSDS also made recommendations on the existing foul drainage catchments that should be diverted, either in full or in part, to the proposed regional WwTP. These recommendations informed the initial selection of the study area, which included North County Dublin, the foul drainage catchments of Blanchardstown, the north city area (Finglas to Howth), the Lucan/Clondalkin foul drainage catchment in South County Dublin, the drainage catchment of Leixlip WwTP, and the County Meath towns of Ashbourne, Ratoath, Kilbride, Dunboyne, and Clonee. Consideration of the topography in North County Dublin then refined the study area by omitting the area north of a line just south of Balbriggan, as the ground profile was seen to begin rising again from this line northwards.

Q. Is the project provided for under policy?

A. The policy context for the Greater Dublin Drainage project is firmly established at national, regional, and local levels in economic, environmental, and planning policy documents. Key policy documents, such as the National Spatial Strategy for Ireland 2002-2020, the National Development Plan 2007-2013, Building Ireland’s Smart Economy, and the Water Service Investment Programme 2010-2012, outline frameworks for the future physical, infrastructural, environmental, and economic development of the country. These documents refer to the national context and also make recommendations for development at the regional and local levels. The provision of the Greater Dublin Drainage project will ensure that the aims and objectives of these policy documents, in relation to future physical development, economic stimulation and growth, and quality infrastructural services being provided, will be achieved.

The 18 year spatial planning framework contained in the National Spatial Strategy 2002-2020 has, since its conception in 2002, been further developed and progressed at the regional level through the Regional Planning Guidelines (RPGs). The RPGs for the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) 2010-2022 specifically identify the Greater Dublin Drainage project, highlight its importance to the future development of the GDA, and commit to its provision.

Similarly, the National Spatial Strategy framework continues to be developed at the local planning level. The Fingal Development Plan 2011-2017 provides an overview of the Greater Dublin Drainage project, highlights why it is needed, stresses its importance to future local and regional growth, and commits through specific objectives to its provision. There are similar objectives in Meath Development Plan 2007-2013 and Dublin City Development Plan 2011-2017. The Development Plans of the remaining associated local authorities, those of Kildare, South Dublin, and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Councils, commit to achieving the recommendations made in the Greater Dublin Strategic Drainage Study (GDSDS) Final Strategy Report and its subsequent Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA). These are the key policy documents on which the provision of the Greater Dublin Drainage project is based.

Q. How many tonnes of sewage will be treated annually?

A. The quantity of sewage to be treated will vary over the life of the WwTP. At a design load of 700,000 PE it is anticipated that there will be 41 tonnes of total suspended solids (TSS), 44 tonnes of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), and 95 tonnes of chemical oxygen demand (COD) will be treated at the WwTP per day when the plant reaches its maxi
mum capacity in 2040. Back to Top

18. Other Project Issues

Q. I don’t think enough was done to raise awareness of the previous consultation opportunities. What will you do for ASA Phase 2 to ensure that all interested stakeholders have the opportunity to participate?

A. At all times, Fingal County Council has aimed to achieve an accessible, meaningful, and accountable consultation. As part of the ASA Phase 2 Consultation, the following will be done to publicise the process:

- Advertisements in local and national newspapers

- Posters

- Community Update Brochure

- Website Updates

- Tweets on the Fingal County Council Twitter account

- Press Releases

- Open Days

- Email alert to all on mailing list

- Briefing to Elected Representatives in Fingal

- Notification issued to all Elected Members in the Greater Dublin Area (except Wicklow)

The ASA Phase 2 Consultation will run for eight weeks, from 14th May to 6th July 2012 and every effort will be made to ensure that all interested stakeholders are aware of the opportunity to engage with the Project Team.

Q. Why has Fingal County Council offered to treat sewage from all over County Dublin, Wicklow and Kildare and put this impossible burden on their own community?

Future jobs and new industries are dependent on the new Regional WwTP which will work in conjunction with Ringsend and all the other Wastewater Treatment Plants in the Region.

Q. Are submissions that are received outside of formal periods of non-statutory consultation afforded the same status as those that are received during the consultation period?

A. Yes, the Project Team reads and reviews all submissions that are received, whether or not they are received during periods of formal, non-statutory consultation. Although submissions received after the close of formal consultation periods may not be included in the Consultation Reports, they are still reviewed and considered by the wider Project Team.

Upon submission of the planning application and EIS to An Bord Pleanála, the consultation will move to a statutory phase, which is managed by An Bord Pleanála. All stakeholder submissions received by An Bord Pleanála will be reviewed for information by the Project Team.

The statutory consultation will run for a set period of time and more details will be provided as we move closer to this phase in terms of where and how information will be made available.

Q. I think the project name, Greater Dublin Drainage, is misleading and you should change it to reflect the fact that it is a sewage treatment plant.

A. Drainage is defined as the network that transports wastewater to a treatment plant before it is discharged as clean, treated effluent into rivers or seas. Therefore, the name Greater Dublin Drainage does accurately reflect the nature of the project and what it entails.

The entire Greater Dublin Drainage project involves the provision of:

- a new wastewater treatment works;

- a marine outfall; and

- a new drainage network.

Q. Can the project information be provided in other formats, such as Braille?

A. Yes, the project information can be provided in Braille upon request and all literature can be produced in an accessible electronic format suitable for use with JAWS or similar screen reading software for people who are visually impaired. If you have any other communications needs, please contact the Project Team and we will do our best to assist.

Q. Does the consultation process comply with the Aarhus Convention?

A. Yes, the consultation process complies with and even exceeds the requirements set out in the Aarhus Convention. Article 6(3) states that the public participation process should include different phases with reasonable timeframes (which have been provided by Greater Dublin Drainage), allowing the public to be informed (which has been and will be achieved by Greater Dublin Drainage), and for the public to participate effectively during the decision-making process (which has been and will be achieved by Greater Dublin Drainage).

Q. Why are you using an 1890 number? If I am out of the country, I will be unable to ring the phone line.

A. Eircom’s 1890 numbers are a fixed price, which means that the caller is always aware how much the call will cost (€0.59/minute for the day and evening). However, if you have difficulty ringing the number, please do not hesitate to contact us by post or email with a request to ring you (including your phone number) and we will call you back.

Q. The Fingal County Council website is very difficult to use; where can I find the link to the project on the website?

A. The direct link to the project website is www.greaterdublindrainage.com. In terms of the Fingal County Council website, our most recent news, including consultation launches, will be posted on the homepage. However, in order to improve accessibility, during periods of formal consultation, Fingal will host a permanent direct link on the home page to the project website.

Q. Will you make people aware of the public consultation through county-wide letter drops or as inserts in the free newspapers?

A. During the ASA Phase 1 Consultation, advertisements were placed in the free newspapers, as well as the paid newspapers. The publication dates for these advertisements are as follows:

Date	Newspaper
11.10.11	Irish Times and Fingal Independent
17.10.11	Irish Times
18.10.11	North County Leader
19.10.11	Northside People East and Northside People West
25.10.11	Evening Herald
26.10.11	Blanchardstown Gazette, Castleknock Gazette, Malahide Gazette and Swords Gazette
01.11.11	Metro Herald
02.11.11	Community Voice

For ASA Phase 2, advertisements will be placed in the same papers in order to ensure stakeholders are aware of the opportunity to engage.

In terms of a community-wide leaflet drop, they are typically not 100% successful. Instead, we will raise awareness of the consultation by sending posters and brochures to organisations who made submissions, local libraries in Fingal, the Fingal County Council Offices, and will send out email to all those who registered for further information. In addition, there will be advertisements in local and national papers.

Q. I cannot afford to post a submission in and I think you should use free, pre-paid postage forms. Will you please provide all interested stakeholders with this?

A. There are a number of ways in which submissions can be made, including through post, email, personal meetings, and on the phone. You can contact the Project Team, as follows:

Attend an Open Day

Email us: info[@]greaterdublindrainage.com

Phone us: 1890.44.55.67

Visit the website: www.greaterdublindrainage.com

Write us: Greater Dublin Drainage, c/o RPS Group, West Pier Business Campus, Dún Laoghaire, Co. Dublin, Ireland

If costs are a concern, you can ring the lo-call phone line and request that the Project Team ring you back to save on call costs. Hard copy submissions can also be handed in at the Fingal County Council offices in Swords and Blanchardstown, thereby saving on postal costs.

Q. You should be meeting stakeholders in their own communities, such as schools or community centres. Will you organise this?

A. Fingal County Council has endeavoured to have an accessible, meaningful, and accountable public consultation and one of the elements of accessibility is to ensure that all stakeholders have the opportunity to engage with the Project Team.

Therefore, our Open Day meetings with stakeholders are held in the Fingal County Council offices, as they are convenient areas for public engagement that are central, fully accessible, and have easy options for transport access. The Project Team are always open to meeting with stakeholders in an accessible area upon request, but the larger Open Days will continue at the County Offices.

Q. Why have you employed a public relations firm?

A. Fingal County Council procured communications services through a competitive tendering process. The retained consultants satisfied Fingal County Council that their staff met the required educational, qualification, and relevant experience requirements to manage and deliver the project. RPS Project Communications, part of the environmental and engineering consultancy RPS Group, won the tender to deliver the stakeholder consultation and media relations elements of the project.

RPS Group has been hired to manage the public consultation process for the GDD project. Part of this work will involve ensuring that the project is feature in local press and media in order to ensure a high level of awareness of the project.

Q. Can you set up a stakeholder referral programme, whereby I can pass along contact details of my friends so they can be added to the mailing list?

A. In order to be added to our mailing list, stakeholders must give permission for us to contact them and send them information about the project. Registering for the mailing list is straight-forward and stakeholders can sign up via the newsletter button on the website, in person at events and open days, and via the project phone line. If you have any friends that would like to join our mailing list, please feel free to pass our contact details to them so they can request to join the mailing list.

Q. The previous SEA has confused the whole consultation process. I think you need to start over from the beginning.

A. The GDSDS and the SEA are precursor reports to the current GDD project, as they identified the North County Dublin (Fingal) region as the most suitable location for the regional wastewater treatment plant.

The GDD project began with a consultation on the study area and the constraints within that area, in order to identify land parcels. As a result of the application of various constraints, such as designated areas, the previously identified area of Portrane (from the GDSDS) was ruled out for further study.

The consultation process is now adhering to the following road map

Fingal County Council is confident that the consultation and engagement process has been accessible, meaningful, and accountable. The full study area has been given appropriate review and consideration, with no prioritisation of one area over the other. For the full details of the previous consultations, please see our Consultation Reports on the project reports page.

19. Risk

Q. How is risk being considered as part of this project’s development?

A. Risk is being considered as part of the project’s development and an environmental risk assessment will be undertaken as part of the EIS.

Q. Can you guarantee that Fingal will operate the WwTP correctly?

A. Fingal County Council is required by legislation to apply to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for a licence or wastewater discharge authorisation for the treated effluent discharge from the proposed wastewater treatment plant (WwTP). This licence is subject to monitoring and auditing by the EPA.

Q. What happens if there is a leak?

A. Design, construction, and operation will be to international best practice and will encompass routine maintenance processes that will minimise the potential for leaks.

Q. What happens if the pumps malfunction?

A. It is normal practice that all pumped systems encompass duty/stand by/assist and back up pumps.

Q. Will there be air valve releases?

A. It is normal to have air release valves on pumped lines at appropriate locations along its length. Odour is not typical at these locations.

Q. Can you guarantee that EU guidelines will be complied with?

A. It is a requirement for the project that all relevant EU and Irish legislation will be complied with. In addition, the project will require an effluent discharge licence from the EPA.

Q. How will we know the plant will be operated correctly?

Q. Back to Top

20. Sludge & Residual Waste

Q. Will the proposed WwTP take in sludge from other locations? What about industrial or abattoir sludge?

A. The requirement to transfer sludge from other WwTPs within Fingal has yet to be determined. The technical team have been requested to consider, pending a review of the FCC Sludge Management Plan, the impacts of treating wastewater sludge from other FCC wastewater treatment plants

However, there will be capability at the WwTP to accept septage from domestic septic tanks. Sludge from abattoirs or industrial premises will not be accepted.

Q. What will happen to the solid waste (i.e. nappies) that remains after the treatment process?

A. It is normal practice for screenings (paper or nappies, for instance) and grit to be disposed of to a licensed landfill. Wastewater sludge can be spread on agricultural land following appropriate treatment in accordance with existing regulations. However, final storage or ultimate use for sludge from this WwTP is unknown at present.

Q. How will the sludge be treated?

A. It is a requirement that the wastewater sludge produced by the regional WwTP be treated on site. The most likely method of treatment will be anaerobic digestion followed by thermal drying. The full sludge treatment process will be assessed in the EIS.

Q. Is it safe to spread sludge on agricultural land?

A. The Waste Management (Use of Sewage Sludge in Agriculture) (Amendment) Regulations, 2001 (S.I. No. 267 of 2001) permits the use of appropriately treated sewage sludge in agriculture.

Q. How much sludge will there be?

A. It is currently estimated that at the maximum capacity of 700,000 PE load, approximately 9,200 tonnes of dry solids will be produced per annum. The project, however, will begin by treating 350,000 PE.

Q. How will the sludge be transported?

A. It is likely that it will be transported by covered HGVs.

Q. Where will the sludge go?

EU and Irish legislation requires that sludge arising from wastewater treatment shall be reused whenever appropriate and in such a manner as to minimise adverse effects on the environment. Reuse of such sludges to land, especially agricultural land, can only be undertaken provided these sludges receive appropriate treatment, either biological, chemical, or heat treatment. There are many possible reuse outlets for treated sludges including, but not limited to, agricultural fertiliser (as long as it is used in accordance with the legislation), topsoil conditioner, use in landfill / contaminated land remediation, and remediation of tailings ponds. The final end use of the treated sludge will ultimately be decided by the future operator of the wastewater treatment plant in compliance with all relevant legislation.

Q. How many HGV journeys will be needed to move this sludge out of the WwTP?

A. It is estimated that three vehicle movements per day will be required to transport the treated sludge from the plant. Back to Top

21.Technology, Pipeline & Size

Q. Will the proposed new regional wastewater plant will be the largest in the country?

A. The proposed new regional WwTP in North Dublin will not be the largest plant in the country in terms of the amount of wastewater treated. By 2040 it will deal with approximately one third of the wastewater that will be treated at the expanded Ringsend WWTP.

Q. How much land will the proposed regional WwTP require?

A. The new regional WwTP will require a site area of approximately 20 ha. Within this site, approximately 16 ha will be required for the plant and 4ha (approx 10 acres) for a buffer zone/screening.

All of the nine land parcels identified are larger than the required 20 ha. The Project Team are currently undertaking further studies, which will continue over the winter, to identify the most suitable 20 ha within each of the nine land parcels and ultimately a single preferred 20ha site.

Q. Why are the proposed land parcels so much bigger than the required 20ha sites?

A. In order to contain all the necessary unit process for a treatment plan of the required capacity, a site of approximately 20ha is required. Land parcels larger than that required for the actual site are being examined to allow flexibility in alignment of the final 20ha site within the land parcels. There are no other considerations apart from those related to the WwTP..

Q. Will the proposed new regional wastewater plant will be the largest in the country?

A. No, by 2040, it will deal with approximately 1/3 of the volume being treated at the expanded Ringsend plant.

Q. Will the proposed plant treat wastewater from 700,000 people?

A. Wastewater treatment plant volume is measured in PE (population equivalent) and 700,000 PE includes wastewater from factories, industries, and commercial enterprises.

Q. How will the sewage enter the WwTP? Will it be pumped?

A. It is expected that the orbital pipelines will consist of a combination of gravity and pumped flow.

Q. Will the effluent be continuously delivered to the outflow discharge point?

A. The intention is to approach as near a continuous discharge as possible at the outfall.

Q. What size pipes will be used to pump sewage into the plant and what width will the channel be for the pipes?

A. This will not be known until the preferred site, pipeline corridor, and outfall location is identified.

Q. Why do we need one large plant? A few smaller ones would make more sense.

A. The option of having a number of smaller wastewater treatment plants, rather than one regional plant, was given a lot of consideration as far back as 2005, as part of the Greater Dublin Strategic Drainage Study (GDSDS). The issue was considered again in 2008 when the Strategic Environment Assessment (SEA) report was published.

Both the GDSDS and the SEA reports confirm that one large regional plant will have a lesser impact on the environment than a large number of smaller plants discharging to ground/surface waters across the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) would and the decision was made to progress the scheme based on one regional WwTP.

The local rivers and streams across the GDA are too small to be able to absorb the cumulative impacts of treated effluent from a large number of smaller plants. The predicted impacts of climate change and the possibility of stricter surface or ground water legislation in the future also rules out a number of small local plants and confirms the need for the one regional plant that is capable of treating wastewater from 700,000 population equivalent.

Capital cost estimates for all the scenarios considered in the GDSDS are included in the Fingal Strategy Report. Economic factors were also considered on a relative basis in the SEA. It was determined that the most cost-effective option was a single regional WwTP.

Q. How will business and industries be monitored in relation to releasing chemicals into the orbital pipeline?

A. Industries discharging to public sewers require either an IPPC licence from the EPA or a Section 16 licence from the Local Authority before discharging.

Q. How big will the pipes be?

A. The size of the pipeline is still being determined. However, the pipes will be designed to transfer flows from the identified load centres at 2040 design year.

Q. What is the length/distance of the pipeline route?

A. Location, size and length of the pipelines will be determined subsequent to identification of preferred site and route.

Q. Are there any other examples of 22 kilometre orbital pipe works?

A. Long interceptor / orbital sewers have been used previously in the development of Dublin’s drainage. Examples include:

North Fringe Sewer: Finglas to Sutton Pumping Station – c.13.7km
NDDS Sewer: Finglas to original outlet off the ‘Nose of Howth’ – c.23.3km
Submarine Pipeline: Sutton to Ringsend wastewater treatment plant (WwTP) – c.11km
Route 9C Sewer: Blanchardstown to Ringsend WwTP – 24.5km
Route 9B Sewer: Saggart to Ringsend WwTP – 21.5km

These sewers essentially act as interceptor / orbital sewers transferring sewage from the catchments they serve to the Ringsend WwTP. Back to Top

22.Timeline

Q. What is the proposed timescale for the project?

A. It is currently estimated that construction for the WwTP and orbital pipelines will not commence before mid-2017. Back to Top

23.Tourism

Q. Our coastline in Fingal is Key to our tourism industry- Why have you not considered this? Why have you not considered tourism?

A. The Fingal coastline and its value to tourism is being considered by the Project Team. The approach being taken in selecting the best location for the wastewater treatment plant and the marine outfall is a rigorous one aimed at avoiding, and where this is not possible, mitigating against any associated impacts. The project should not impact on the tourism potential of the area and will facilitate the development of new tourism infrastructure. Implementing all the recommendations of the Greater Dublin Strategic Drainage Study (GDSDS) will also improve overall water quality in the Region. Currently raw sewage is being pumped into the sea at Rush. The commissioning of the new Portrane WwTP, currently underway, will put an end to this practice and improve water quality.

An appropriately constructed and well operated plant should have no adverse impact on the area in which it is located.

Q. Who will visit Lusk when it is home to a giant sewage treatment plant?

A. The approach being taken in selecting the best location for the wastewater treatment plant and the marine outfall is a rigorous one aimed at avoiding, and where this is not possible, mitigating against any associated impacts. The project should not impact on the tourism potential of the area and will facilitate the development of new tourism infrastructure. Implementing all the recommendations of the Greater Dublin Strategic Drainage Study (GDSDS) will also improve overall water quality in the Region. Currently raw sewage is being pumped into the sea at Rush. The commissioning of the new Portrane WwTP, currently underway, will put an end to this practice and improve water quality.

An appropriately constructed and well operated plant should have no adverse impact on the area in which it is located.

Ultimately, the potential impacts of odour and noise on surrounding sensitive receptors from the selected site will be assessed by specialists, against detailed odour and noise modeling, undertaken as part of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the project. Noise and odour mitigation measures will be put in place.

24.Traffic and Roads

Q. What are the estimated traffic volumes at the proposed wastewater treatment plant?

A. It is estimated that there will be three heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) per day, on average, removing treated sludge from the proposed regional wastewater treatment plant (WwTP) when it is at its full operational capacity in 2040 (0.7 m P.E.).

Pending a review of the Fingal County Council (FCC) Sludge Management Plan, the impacts of treating wastewater sludge at the Regional WwTP from other FCC municipal WwTPs and from domestic dwellings (septic tanks) is also being examined. Should this additional use/operation occur at the Regional WwTP, it is estimated that the number of HGVs could increase to 13 per day, on average.

These figures are preliminary and are based on a 260 day working year, with no HGV movements anticipated on Saturdays or Sundays. As scheme planning progresses, more precise estimates of HGV movements will be made available. A comprehensive assessment of the scheme’s impact on traffic will be provided in the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), which must accompany the scheme’s application to An Bord Pleanála for planning approval.

Q. Is a traffic study being undertaken?

A. Traffic and access are both aspects that will be examined under the ASA Phase 2 report. In addition to this a full traffic impact assessment will be undertaken as part of the Environmental Impact Assessment on the preferred site.

Q. Will new roads need to be built to accommodate the project? Has the cost of this been considered?

A. The requirement for any new or additional roads will not be known until the preferred WwTP site, pipeline corridor, and marine outfall location are identified. This requirement is being considered, as a high level, as part of the ASA and will be assessed further as part of the EIS for the preferred site.

Q. What roads will be impacted during the construction of the project?

A. This will not be known until the preferred site is indentified.

24. Wastewater & Wastewater Treatment

Q. What are drainage and wastewater?

Wastewater is any water whose quality has been adversely affected by human activity or industry. It can be liquid waste discharged by domestic residences, commercial properties, industry, or agriculture and it can contain of a wide range of contaminants.

Even simple everyday activities like showering, brushing teeth, cooking, and using the toilet create wastewater. Some of these organic products can be broken down easily in the environment but others are not so easily degraded.

The drainage system transports this wastewater to a treatment plant before it is discharged as treated effluent into our rivers or seas.

Q. Why do we need to treat wastewater?

Untreated wastewater poses a threat to public health and the environment. All wastewater is ultimately discharged back into the aquatic environment and, if the treatment is inadequate, the receiving waters will be polluted.

Furthermore, proper wastewater treatment systems are essential for sustaining modern livelihood and contributing to development. Businesses, industries, and hospitals, along with all other water users, rely on a robust wastewater treatment system to maintain daily activities.

Q. How is wastewater treated?

Domestic wastewater treatment or sewage treatment is the process of removing contaminants from wastewater and sewage from homes and businesses.

The process of wastewater treatment is to remove physical, chemical, and biological contaminants. The objective of undertaking this treatment is to produce an environmentally safe fluid waste stream or sludge that is suitable for disposal or reuse (usually in the form of fertiliser).

There are two main phases of treatment undertaken in wastewater plants:

Primary treatment consists of temporarily holding the sewage in a tank where heavy solids can settle to the bottom while oil, grease, and lighter solids float to the surface. The settled and floating materials are removed and the remaining liquid may be discharged or subjected to secondary treatment.
Secondary treatment removes dissolved and suspended biological matter. Secondary treatment is typically performed by indigenous, water-borne micro-organisms in a managed habitat. Secondary treatment may require a separation process to remove the micro-organisms from the treated water prior to discharge or tertiary treatment.
Tertiary treatment may be needed in certain circumstances where the sensitivity of the receiving environment requires it.

The graphic below demonstrates how a modern wastewater treatment system process works.