Irish Water is progressing with its plans to build a new wastewater treatment plant in Moville which will protect local beaches and coastline.

At present Moville has no municipal wastewater treatment facilities. Untreated wastewater from Moville is currently being discharged into the Bredagh River and Lough Foyle at five locations polluting the beaches and coastline. Moville is one of the areas the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) identified as having no wastewater treatment – the Agency has classified the Bredagh River as being ‘Seriously Polluted’.

The current discharges of untreated wastewater are also polluting Lough Foyle, the beaches and coastline - threatening water quality, polluting the environment and detracting from the amenity value of the river and the coastal waters around Moville and environs. Irish Water said the new wastewater treatment plant and collection system is needed to end this practice.

Project is in design and pre-planning stage

The project to deliver a new wastewater treatment plant and collection system is in the design and pre-planning stage. Detailed design and construction will take approximately four years, and will be completed by 2022, subject to statutory approvals. The proposed project will end the discharge of untreated wastewater (the equivalent of 2,800 wheelie bins per day) into Lough Foyle and the Bredagh River.

The water company is currently undertaking on-the-ground investigations and engaging with landowners and the local community. Mobilisation is underway for geotechnical site investigation works which will commence this week.

Once the investigations and detailed design are complete Irish Water expects to submit a planning application by the end of 2019 to the planning authority.