Irish Water, working in partnership with Donegal County Council, is using a combination of US and Australian technologies to deliver an innovative new sewerage system for homes and businesses in Gweedore.

Experts from the water company’s suppliers from the USA and Australia recently joined the Irish Water team who are delivering the sewerage scheme. The delivery partners from America and Australia were in Ireland as part of an intensive three-day series of engagements. The experts were on hand to explain to the people who are being connected to the Demonstration Project, the business community and elected representatives in Gweedore how the system will be installed, how it works and to answer any queries that arose.

When complete, the new sewerage scheme will improve the water quality in Gweedore Bay and local rivers and streams; provide better treatment of wastewater to protect the environment and ensure Gweedore is in compliance with Irish and European regulations. Improved wastewater facilities can also contribute to future growth in the area.

Irish Water is progressing a Demonstration Project serving over 40 properties as the first phase of the Gweedore Sewerage scheme. The project team is currently constructing the main pressure sewer network associated with the Demonstration Project. Following completion of the works, installation of the pods and associated works will take place at individual properties. The collected wastewater will be treated at the existing Údaras na Gaeltachta wastewater treatment plant.

Irish Water’s Mark O’Callaghan commented:

“Once the Demonstration Project has been completed and is operational, Irish Water will then roll out the scheme to the wider Gweedore area. We are also progressing our plans to upgrade the Údaras na Gaeltachta wastewater treatment plant which will be used to treat wastewater from the wider Gweedore area. This will ensure that both existing and future premises within the boundary of the wider scheme can be connected to the public system, pretty much regardless of location”.

The innovative system will ultimately lead to a reduction on the reliance of septic tanks in the area, without the level of disruption or costs that is normally associated with traditional collection systems.”

Explaining how the system will work, Mark O’Callaghan added:

“Wastewater from the house or business will flow by gravity into the pump pod. When the amount of wastewater reaches a certain level, the wastewater will be liquidised and then pumped through a small pipe away to the main network and on to the wastewater treatment plant. The innovative control system will manage the network to ensure that both the individual pods and the overall system functions properly.”