Belturbet Wastewater Treatment Plant deferred

Cavan County Council planning department's decision on the Belturbet water plant trial of reed beds as a water treatment exercise has been postponed pending the submission of further information.

Irish Water submitted plans to the local authority in January notifying to develop a “research pilot project” at the Belturbet Wastewater Treatment Plant.

In an update of the current situation, the planning office informed The Anglo-Celt: “A request for more information in relation to six items was issued on March 3, 2021. The applicant has six months from the issue of this request to furnish the planning authority with this information.”

Irish Water's trial of a research pilot project at Belturbet Wastewater Treatment Plant would see the installation of reed beds a way of sustainably managing water treatment sludge.If approved, this will see six reed beds installed at the facility at Naughan, on the outskirts of the Erneside town.

A submission was lodged in January by Irish Water with Cavan County Council detailing the proposal to construct an Alum Sludge Drying Reed Beds (SCRB) Small Scale Trial Facility consisting of six Sludge Drying Reed Beds (SDRB), each 11.0m2 in size.

A spokesperson for Irish Water informed: “It is intended that the research project will look at how Irish Water can improve ways in which residual materials arising from producing drinking water can be managed. Irish Water plans to investigate if reed beds consisting of layers of gravel and sand planted with reeds will be effective in separating solids from water treatment residuals.”

It involves a natural treatment process in which the reeds system naturally treats the sludge, and provides a sustainable and cost-effective solution for the long term treatment of wastewater sludge.

The daily operation and maintenance of the systems will be minimal, only requiring the beds to be emptied once every 10 years. The process reduces transport movements and emissions, while also substantially reducing costs associated with the treatment process and providing a habitat that will support a wide range of biodiversity.

The research would take approximately three years to complete.