Motion passed to inspect Carrick Wastewater Treatment Plant's impact on Glen River

Councillors of Donegal Municipal District passed a motion calling for the Carrick Wastewater Treatment Plant to be inspected by Donegal County Council’s Environment Section and for an Environmental Impact Assessment to be carried out.

Cllr Jimmy Brogan put forward the motion at January’s meeting of Donegal MD, which called for assessments to take place “with specific regard to its impact on the Glen River and the implications for the future development of Carrick village.”

The motion brought by Cllr Brogan continued: “The recent announcement of much-needed funding for Carrick under the (Project Development Measure) Town and Village Renewal Scheme is very welcome.

“However, there are serious concerns that the existing wastewater infrastructure may be contributing to pollution of the Glen River. Furthermore, the treatment plant currently lacks sufficient capacity to meet the need for new connections to the wastewater system to ensure future development and growth of the village.”

A response from the executive of Donegal MD stated that Donegal County Council were “in a position to lift extra chemical samples along with our Water framework sampling to assess chemical data.

“We can also undertake a biological assessment through an SSRS (Small Streams Risk Score) to give us a better picture of water quality during certain times.”

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Cllr Brogan told the Donegal MD meeting: “The answer to the question doesn’t answer all the questions. This has potential for polluting the river, and a lot of the locals will tell you that the river is polluted. 

“I would like the council to contact Irish Water to update the plant for the waste treatment system, which they are monitoring systematically.”

The future development of Carrick was mentioned as a reason why the motion should pass, with Cllr Brogan saying that the Carrick Wastewater Treatment Plant was “not designed for the number of houses on it, or designed for more houses.

Cllr Michael Boyle, who seconded the bill, added: “There is a developer there looking to develop, but he knows there is no capacity with Irish Water. It is vital that we do something about it.”

As part of the Donegal MD executive response, an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) assessment on the Carrick Wastewater Treatment Plant in 2021 was referenced. 

A summary of that report, provided by the Donegal MD’s executive’s answer and included concerns, highlighted that: ”While effluent monitoring results in 2020 and 2021 did comply with the standard performance criteria for primary treatment, the plant is significantly overloaded.”

Furthermore, “The EPA noted work practices were not in place to ensure systematic monitoring of sludge levels to determine when desludging should be carried out.

“Irish Water should carry out an impact assessment and determine the appropriate option for infrastructural upgrade.

“Irish Water should put in place work practices and provide training to staff to ensure that the plant achieves design performance criteria as far as practicably possible.  

“The onus is on Irish Water to take all necessary steps to ensure compliance with the requirements of the wastewater discharge authorisation.”