Bradley welcomes planning approval for Fahan wastewater treatment plant

Buncrana Councillor Fionán Bradley has welcomed the news that planning approval has been granted to Uisce Éireann to carry out a much-needed upgrade of the wastewater treatment plant in Fahan.

The development will consist of upgrade works to the existing Fahan WWTP to convert it into a wastewater pumping station and construction of a 6.2km wastewater rising main along the R238, connecting the proposed Fahan plant with the existing Buncrana wastewater network.

Works will also be carried out at the Buncrana wastewater treatment plant to increase capacity so that it can cater to a population of 17,700.

Fianna Fail Cllr Bradley said: “I very much welcome this development, given that it has proven very difficult in the last number of years to obtain planning permission in the Fahan area due to the inadequate sewerage system in place.”

“Once this upgrade to the WWTP is complete, it will substantially increase capacity for new housing developments.”

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However, Cllr Bradley has once again raised the “complete lack of engagement” from Uisce Éireann in relation to finding a solution for the people of Lisfannon and the issues they have with their sewerage treatment plant.

“It defies logic that Uisce Éireann is going to lay a new sewerage pipe along the main road from Fahan to Buncrana while completely ignoring the residents in Lisfannon who will not be connected to this new sewer,” he said.

“They have stated that the residents in Lisfannon could be connected in the future, but that makes absolutely no sense economically or from an environmental perspective. I will continue to liaise with UE in the hope that they will see sense and connect the dwellings in Lisfannon while this work is ongoing,” Cllr Bradley added.