Clew Bay survey for west Mayo sewerage scheme

IRISH Water are preparing to complete an effluent dispersal model of Clew Bay as part of their plans to build a new sewerage treatment plant in Newport.

The scheme is included in their investment plan and design work is ongoing, councillors were told at a Westport-Belmullet Municipal District meeting.

A pre-application to conduct the survey has been approved and a full application has now been made.

Councillor Brendan Mulroy, in response, said Irish Water have been issuing that statement for the last two months.

There is no sign of any people on the ground in Newport.

He appreciated it was on the capital works programme but it has been on that since 2017 and it is now 2022 and raw sewage continues to flow into Clew Bay.

They needed Irish Water to come in to a meeting and explain the situation to them.

He appreciated surveys are being carried out. However, it was supposed to be finished by now but is still going on.

Councillor Johnny O'Malley said raw sewage has been flowing into the bay since the mid 1960s. “That is a long time.”

He couldn't see it happening in 2025. He was told they need a larger site, which may be subject to a CPO, and that could take two to three years.

“This should have happened years ago,” he said. He was sceptical.

The councillor agreed that Irish Water should attend a meeting and explain what they are going to do.