See attached letter.
Menu of appropriate Objectives/Policies for Water Services in Development Plans
General Policies in relation to Water Services
a) To work closely with Irish Water to identify and facilitate the timely delivery of the water services required to realize the development objectives of this plan;
b) To consult with Irish Water in the development of Plans, SDZs, etc in order to ensure the proposed spatial strategy takes account of:
- the available capacity of the public water services infrastructure;
- the need to protect and optimise existing and planned public water services infrastructure;
- the need for sequential and phased development;
- the financial and environmental implications of development in sensitive areas.
c) Prior to granting planning permission the Council will ensure that adequate water services will be available to service development, and will require developers to provide evidence of consultation with Irish Water prior to applying for planning permission;
d) To protect existing way leaves and buffer zones around public water services infrastructure through appropriate zoning and to facilitate the provision of appropriate sites for required water services infrastructure as necessary;
Water Supply
e) To protect both ground and surface water resources including taking account of the impacts of climate change, and to support Irish Water in the development and implementation of Drinking Water Safety Plans and the National Water Resources Plan;
f) To promote water conservation and demand management measures among all water users, and to support Irish Water in implementing water conservation measures such as leakage reduction and network improvements.
Wastewater Services
g) To ensure that the Local Authority provides adequate storm water infrastructure in order to accommodate the planned levels of growth within the plan area and to ensure that appropriate flood management measures are implemented to protect property and infrastructure;
h) To require all new development to provide a separate foul and surface water drainage system and to incorporate sustainable urban drainage systems where appropriate;
i) To prohibit the discharge of additional surface water to combined (foul and surface water) sewers in order to maximise the capacity of existing collection systems;
j) To support Irish Water in the promotion of effective management of trade discharges to sewers in order to maximise the capacity of existing sewer networks and minimise detrimental impacts on sewage treatment works;
k) To ensure that all new developments connect to the public wastewater infrastructure, and to encourage existing developments that are in close proximity to a public sewer to connect to that sewer, subject to a connection agreement with Irish Water;
l) To ensure that the provision of private wastewater treatment facilities for residential development, other than single house systems, should not generally be considered by planning authorities. Irish Water will not retrospectively take over responsibility for developer provided treatment facilities or associated networks, unless agreed in advance;
m) The provision of single house septic tanks and treatment plants in the Plan area will be strongly discouraged to minimise the risk of groundwater pollution. Where such facilities are permitted, full compliance with the prevailing regulations and standards, including the EPA’s Code of Practice Wastewater Treatment and Disposal Systems Serving Single Houses (PE. ≤10) (EPA 2009), as may be amended, will be required;
n) To ensure that private wastewater treatment plants, where permitted, are operated in compliance with their wastewater discharge license, in order to protect water quality.