Where as once the routine discharge of raw sewage into the sea was considered the norm, this is now no longer publicly acceptable and is in most cases contrary to European and Irish Law.
Sligo Co Co, by its committed objective in providing a Waster Water Treatment Plant for the city of Sligo, is fulfilling its statutory obligation under the E.U. Directive 91/271/EEC most recently confirmed by SI No 254 of 2001 (Urban Waste Water Treatment Regulations, 2001). The Regulations require the provision of a secondary treatment facility, which will eliminate the discharge of untreated wastewater into Sligo Bay.
The provision of the plant will accommodate tourism, housing, commercial, industrial and recreational developments in the capital City of the North West Region, together with the provision of sludge reception facility for the treatment of sewage sludge in the North West. The treatment works will clear the way for the integration of sewerage facilities from the surrounding village areas of Cummeen, Carraroe, Ballincar, Rosses Point and all areas designated for development in the Sligo & Environs Development Plan.
The provision of the treatment works is most timely as it coincides with a period of unprecedented economic growth in Ireland and the North West. The Project will make an invaluable contribution to sustained development while at the same time providing protection of the quality environment of Sligo Bay.
The Project is being funded under the National Development Plan through the office of the Minister for Environment, Heritage and Local Government.