A preferred site for a new storage facility to serve the greater Dublin region has been identified by Irish Water.

The preferred site is located at Newtown/Kilshane, Dublin 11.

The new facility will store biosolids produced at the upgraded Ringsend Wastewater Treatment Plant and at the Greater Dublin Drainage project once operational.

Biosolids are produced during the wastewater treatment process. They contain high levels of nutrients and are sustainably reused as a soil conditioner and fertiliser in agriculture and forestry. Under EU and national regulations, biosolids can only be applied to lands during the planting seasons in Spring and Autumn and are stored for the intervening periods.

Due to population and economic growth, the quantity of biosolids produced in the greater Dublin region is expected to exceed the available storage capacity. Irish Water is working to upgrade existing wastewater treatment plants and provide new facilities where necessary to meet the needs of our growing population.

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Indicative site layout

Earlier this year, Irish Water sought views on a shortlist of five potential sites for the Regional Biosolids Storage Facility located in Dublin, Fingal and Meath.

Following public consultation, the shortlisted sites proceeded to a technical assessment of a range of environmental, economic/engineering, planning, and social/community criteria in order to identify a preferred site. A qualitative assessment using 21 classifications compared the specific site characteristics of each site.

The Newtown/Kilshane site was found to be more favourable for a majority of the criteria assessed including zoning (heavy industry), planning policy, landscape and visual impact, noise, ecology, hydrology, distance from biosolids source, and capital and operating costs.

The preferred site will now undergo further environmental studies and assessments as part of the preparation of a planning application for the project. An Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR) and Natura Impact Statement (NIS) will be prepared for the project. Irish Water has published an EIAR/NIS scoping report and is now seeking feedback on the proposed assessment methodology. A six week consultation has started and runs until Tuesday 10 October 2017.

(CD/MH)