asked the Minister for the Environment if he is aware of the growing public demand for treatment of effluent of all new sewage schemes and, if so, the steps he is taking in the matter.
Written Answers. - Sewage Treatment.
8.
It is for the individual sanitary authorities to formulate and submit proposals for the treatment of effluent from sewerage schemes in their areas. To assist them in the selection of the extent of the treatment works required guidelines have been prepared by the Technical Committee on Effluent and Water Quality Standards. The guidelines take into consideration the quality and quantity of the receiving waters and indicate the extent of the treatment required to ensure that no harmful pollution of these receiving waters occurs. It is not always necessary to provide for the elaborate treatment of the effluent. This is particularly so when the effluent is being discharged to tidal waters. In such cases maceration or comminution of the sewage may be provided to break up solids and assist in their dispersion.
Financial assistance by way of loan and subsidy is provided for the treatment of effluent from sewerage schemes under the water and sewerage programme. Each proposal is considered in the context of the amount of capital available, the number of schemes in progress and the need to conserve capital for the schemes of the highest priority. If we set excessively high standards and spend money on treatment works where they are not justified by local conditions, it will mean delays in providing basic facilities in other areas.
9.
asked the Minister for the Environment if he will make finance available to local authorities at present discharging untreated sewerage into the River Shannon to enable them to install treatment plants.
The question of the provision of finance for such schemes will not arise until the sanitary authorities concerned have schemes fully planned and approved. I may mention that a scheme for Carrick-on-Shannon, involving treatment works, is nearing completion. Preliminary proposals are under consideration in my Department in respect of four village sewerage schemes on the Shannon while contract documents are under consideration in respect of two other village schemes. These proposals must be considered in the light of the capital available for water and sewerage schemes generally, the number of such schemes in progress or getting to construction at the present time and the need to conserve capital for schemes of the highest priority. If a scheme discharging untreated sewage were causing serious pollution I would accept that this would affect its priority.