Draft Galway Wastewater Strategy
(Galway Metropolitan Area, Athenry, and Moycullen)
The economic success of the Galway Metropolitan Area and surrounding areas under the National Spatial Strategy has led to very significant growth in these areas. As a result, the wastewater infrastructure is challenged to keep pace with this growth and the increased demand for new serviced land for housing, commercial development, and industry. The Draft Galway Wastewater Strategy aims to deliver a sustainable drainage strategy that will protect public health, safeguard our environment, and facilitate growth to 2080.
The Strategy
The Draft Galway Wastewater Strategy will consider the capacity of existing wastewater infrastructure and will identify options for upgrading and building new wastewater infrastructure up to 2080. The strategy will include an analysis of the existing wastewater infrastructure along with data gathering, population and economic growth assessments, strategic environmental assessment, and consultation with interested stakeholders to identify medium and long-term solutions to the wastewater needs of the region. The strategy will be consistent with statutory obligations and regulatory drivers designed to meet both national and international environmental objectives outlined in the Water Framework Directive (WFD) and Urban Wastewater Treatment Directives (UWWTD).
What is happening now?
The first round of consultation is open from 26 September until 20 November 2024, and we are seeking feedback and comments on the Issues Paper, Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Scoping and Appropriate Assessment (AA) Screening Report.
For more information, view the Draft Galway Wastewater Strategy information leaflet.
The Study Area
The Galway Wastewater Strategy (GWS) study area comprises the Galway Metropolitan Area, Athenry, and Moycullen.
The Need for the Study
The Greater Galway Area faces several challenges in relation to wastewater collection and treatment, including:
- Increase in population
- Current compliance challenges at a number of wastewater treatment plants and sewerage networks in the study area
Wastewater treatment capacity requirements to deal with current and future loads from:
- The study area
- Pressures on the receiving waters from wastewater discharges within the study area
- Effects of climate change
The strategy will incorporate the needs of stakeholders, support economic growth, allow for climate change, meet the demand of a growing population, and protect the environment.
The Benefits of the Study
How to Engage
We are now looking for your input to the Issues Paper, Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Scoping and Appropriate Assessment (AA) Screening Report through this public consultation, running from 26 September until 20 November 2024.
In order to assist stakeholders in making a submission as part of this consultation, we invite feedback on the following consultation questions; however, feedback is not limited to these questions.
Contact us
To make a submission please send it to us by email or post by 20 November 2024.
Post: Uisce Éireann, Galway Wastewater Strategy, 1 Galway Business Park, Upper Newcastle Road, Dangan, Galway, H91 A3EF
Email: gws@water.ie
Next Steps: Consultation 2
Following the conclusion of Consultation 1, Uisce Éireann will review and consider feedback received from stakeholders. In 2025, the draft Galway Wastewater Strategy will be published, and an eight-week public consultation will be undertaken, before being reviewed and the final strategy will be published in late 2025.