A major new study has concluded that €2.4 billion needs to be spent to meet the drainage and sewerage needs of the Greater Dublin Area over the next 25 years, €1.3 billion of it in the next six years alone.
The Greater Dublin Strategic Drainage Study, which cost €10 million to produce, covers the needs of local authorities in Dublin city, Fingal, South Dublin and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown along with parts of Meath, Kildare and Wicklow.
Although the final report has yet to be published, the consultants have presented their findings to the city and county managers and are known to be recommending an expansion of the main sewage treatment works in Ringsend.
The need for a new regional sewage treatment plant on the north Dublin coastline is also identified, although no location has yet been chosen for this facility.
It will be subject to a site selection study and environmental impact assessment.
PJ Howell, Fingal County Council's director of water services, said there was enormous pressure on the existing drainage facilities and said the consultants had recommended an investment of €330 million for north Dublin alone.
Other major projects would include an upgrading of pipework throughout the Dublin area as well as the provision of a series of holding tanks for combined foul and storm drains to prevent overflows to rivers and streams during heavy rains.
Asked about the development implications of the programme, Mr Howell said only areas already zoned by local authority development plans were being provided for, in line with the GDA regional planning guidelines adopted last year.
The study was carried out by the Dublin Drainage Consultancy along with Dublin City Council.
It was funded by the Department of the Environment under the National Development Plan 2000-2006.
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