Nicky McFadden (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 576: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when the replacement of water mains at Coosan, Athlone, County Westmeath is due to commence; when the further 12 km of water mains repairs will take place in Athlone, County Westmeath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23515/11]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The Water Services Investment Programme 2010 – 2012, a copy of which is available in the Oireachtas Library, provides for the commencement of water conservation contracts to the value of €10.2 million during the programme period in County Westmeath.

I understand that the award of the contract to replace the watermain in Coosan, Athlone was delayed due to the withdrawal of the lowest tender, and the contract has been offered to the next lowest tender. My Department is providing funding for this contract, which was signed this week, and works are expected to commence on site very shortly.

Site investigation works are currently ongoing in Athlone and the results will be used in the final design and preparation of contract documents for further watermain replacement works in Athlone. I understand that the Council plan to finalise the design and preparation of the contract documents by the end of this year.

Nicky McFadden (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 577: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on the process of discharging raw sewerage into the River Shannon at eight locations in Athlone, County Westmeath, during times of heavy rainfall; and if an alternative method of dealing with sewerage will be used. [23516/11]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The EU on Urban Waste Water Treatment recognises that it is not possible to construct collecting systems and treatment plants in a way such that all wastewater can be treated during situations such as unusually heavy rainfall. Member States therefore have to decide on measures to limit pollution from storm water overflows. In Ireland, the extent and impact of such discharges is regulated through the wastewater discharge licence issued by the Environmental Protection Agency for the particular agglomeration. In addition, my Department has published performance standards in a document. Procedures and criteria in relation to Storm Water Overflows.

In the case of the Athlone area, in common with all early municipal combined sewer networks, the sewers in the old core of Athlone carry storm water as well as foul sewage and are fitted with combined sewer overflows, which in times of heavy rainfall may spill a mixture of storm water and sewage to the watercourse – principally to the River Shannon. The licence issued by the EPA to Westmeath County Council requires some improvement works to ensure that a number of such discharges conform to the Departmental performance standards. It is proposed to address these issues as part of the upgrade of the Athlone Sewerage Scheme which is included in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2010-2012. The Athlone Sewerage Scheme provides for a combination of new sewers, sewer replacement and provision of storm water holding tank to contain excess storm flow and return it to the sewer network – and hence to the wastewater treatment plant – when the rainfall event has passed. The elimination of the combined storm overflows to the River Shannon will be a major benefit of the Scheme. Westmeath County Council has submitted a Project Inception Report for Athlone Sewerage Scheme to my Department and this is currently under consideration.