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Peas in a pod: Gweedore project is an environmental success story

21 July 2022

Tá lúcháir ar Uisce Éireann, i gcomhpháirtíocht le Comhairle Contae Dhún na nGall, críochnú na n-oibreacha a fhógairt chun cochaill a shuiteáil ag 41 réadmhaoin mar chuid de Scéim Séarachais Ghaoth Dobhair. Leis an tionscadal sin réiteofar fadhb na cóireála camrais easpaigh i nGaoth Dobhair, a ró-spleáchas ar úsáid na gcóras do dhabhcha séarachais agus cuirfear feabhas ar cháilíocht an uisce i mBá Ghaoth Dobhair. Soláthróidh an tionscadal tairbhí comhshaoil freisin, tacóidh sé le fás amach anseo sa cheantar agus cinnteoidh sé go gcomhlíonfar an Treoir maidir le Cóireáil Fuíolluisce Uirbigh.

Ag labhairt dó faoi na hoibreacha, mhínigh Patrick Green as Uisce Éireann: “Tá ríméad orainn a fhógairt go bhfuil oibreacha i nGaoth Dobhair curtha i gcrích anois. Seo an dara céim d’oibreacha a rinneadh mar chuid de Scéim Séarachais Ghaoth Dobhair. I gcéim a haon de na hoibreacha in 2019, suiteáladh an líonra séarachais go rathúil a bhaineann leis an tionscadal seo. Faoi choinne sin b’éigean thart ar 2.5 km de líonra úr fuíolluisce a shuiteáil feadh Bhóthar na Monarcha, an Bhóthair Íochtaraigh agus an bhóthair ceangail a nascann an dá cheann. Mar chuid den dara céim seo d’oibreacha, tá 41 chochall suiteáilte go rathúil ag Uisce Éireann i nGaoth Dobhair anois. Ba mhaith liom an deis seo a ghlacadh chun buíochas a ghabháil leis an bpobal áitiúil agus leo siúd a ghlac páirt sa Tionscadal Taispeána as a dtacaíocht leanúnach agus na hoibreacha seo á gcur i gcrích againn."

Bainfidh tairbhí forleathana leis an tionscadal seo don phobal i gcoitinne. Ag labhairt dó faoi na tionchair dhearfacha sin, dúirt Patrick: “Beidh laghdú ar an spleáchas ar dhabhcha séarachais sa cheantar anois mar thoradh ar an scéim séarachais nuálach úr seo. Laghdóidh sé sin scaoileadh fuíolluisce neamhchóireáilte sa timpeallacht tríd an bpróiseas cóireála a fheabhsú. Rachaidh an tionscadal seo chun tairbhe na ndaoine a bhfuil cónaí orthu ansin agus ar chuairteoirí chuig an gceantar agus beidh tionchar dearfach suntasach aige ar cháilíocht an uisce i mBá Ghaoth Dobhair agus cuirfear feabhas ar cháilíocht an uisce do snámhaithe, do shurfálaithe agus d’iascairí.”

Dúirt Patrick: "Ba mhaith liom ár mbuíochas a ghabháil freisin le Cleanteach Civils, le Carty Contractors agus le EPS a chur an obair i gcrích ar son Uisce Éireann. Tá an fuíolluisce a dhéantar a bhailiú sna 41 chochall á chóireáil anois ag Ionad Cóireála Fuíolluisce reatha Údarás na Gaeltachta. Tá lúcháir orainn chun a dhearbhú go ndéanfar uasghrádú suntasach ar an ionad cóireála fuíolluisce chomh maith lena chinntiú go mbeidh caighdeáin chothabhála Uisce Éireann á gcomhlíonadh i gcónaí.”

Tá Uisce Éireann freagrach as gach seirbhís uisce agus fuíolluisce phoiblí a sholáthar in Éirinn. Táimid tiomanta do bhonneagar criticiúil a uasghrádú agus a fhorbairt ar bhonn leanúnach chun tacú leis an bhfás atá riachtanach i dtithíocht agus ar fud ár ngeilleagair, agus an comhshaol á chosaint agus soláthairtí uisce á gcosaint ag an am céanna.

Le haghaidh tuilleadh sonraí i ndáil leis an tionscadal, féach ár leathanach tionscadail um Scéim Séarachais Ghaoth Dobhair.

Uisce Éireann in partnership with Donegal County Council, is delighted to announce the completion of works to install pods at 41 properties as part of the Gweedore Sewerage Scheme. This project will solve the problem of inadequate sewage treatment in Gweedore, its over reliance on the use of septic tank systems and will improve water quality in Gweedore Bay. The project will also provide environmental benefits, support future growth in the area and ensure compliance with Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.

Speaking about the works, Uisce Éireann’s Patrick Greene explained: “We are delighted to announce that works in Gweedore are now complete. This is the second phase of works undertaken as part of the Gweedore Sewerage Scheme. Phase one of the works in 2019, saw the successful installation of the sewer network associated with this project. This required the installation of approximately 2.5km of new wastewater network along Factory Road, the Lower Road and the link road connecting both. As part of this second phase of works, Uisce Éireann has now successfully installed 41 pods in Gweedore. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the local community and those participating in the Demonstration Project for their support as we completed these works.

The benefits of this project to the wider community will be far reaching. Speaking about these positive impacts Patrick said: “This innovative new sewerage scheme will now lead to a reduction on the reliance of septic tanks in the area. It will decrease the discharge of untreated wastewater to the environment by enhancing the treatment process. The project will benefit all those living and visiting the area and will have a significant positive impact on water quality in Gweedore Bay and improve water quality for swimmers, surfers and fishermen.”

Patrick continued: “I would also like to extend our thanks to Cleantech Civils, Carty Contractors and EPS who have delivered the work on behalf of Uisce Éireann. The collected wastewater from the 41 pods is now being treated at the existing Údaras na Gaeltachta Wastewater Treatment Plant. We are delighted to confirm that the treatment plant is also undergoing a significant upgrade to ensure continued compliance with Uisce Éireann maintenance standards.”

Uisce Éireann is responsible for the delivery of all public water and wastewater services in Ireland. We are committed to continuously upgrading and developing critical infrastructure to support the growth needed in housing and across our economy, while protecting the environment and safeguarding water supplies.

For more details on the project, please check out our Gweedore Sewerage Scheme project page.