Vol. 537 No. 3
189 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the criteria he will use for the selection of rural areas for the pilot programme for group sewerage schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16235/01]
The report of the national rural water monitoring committee on small scale rural waste water treatment recommends a pilot programme at up to 12 locations which would be advanced with the objective of examining a number of processes, across a range of sites, using design-build-operate procurement.
The committee is drawing up tender documents at present and will recommend locations which would most appropriately meet the objectives of the pilot project. Factors to be taken into account in the selection of pilot sites include the extent of the community to be served; the availability of a suitable site for the treatment works; the quality and quantity of the receiving waters; the quality of final effluent required from the treatment process; the need for nutrient removal or tertiary treatment; availability of a sludge disposal outlet; ground levels and ground conditions locally; and necessity to confine geographic spread of sites to facilitate the DBO process.
I expect to receive the committee's recommendations on the location of the pilot sites shortly.
Question No. 190 answered with Question No. 87.
Question No. 191 answered with Question No. 63.
