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Infrastructure and Services

7.5 Service Provision

In order to ensure that the land-use policy is fully sustainable the Plan recognises that integrated planning for the provision of services is essential to the delivery of the development plan strategy. A number of background studies have been prepared that will inform the planning of services over the Plan period, including

7.5.1 Water Services

The 1998 Drinking Water Regulations in conjunction with the European Directive 98/83/EC identified the need "to ensure that all rural consumers would have good water supplies in their homes". The DoELG has issued circulars L7/96, L5/01 and L2/02 in respect of Water Conservation objectives, which include:

Table 7.4 shows the public water supply sources in the County and the total number of connections to each scheme.

Table 7.4: Public Water Supply and Sources

Public Water Scheme

No. Of Connections

Ballingarry/Aglish

201

Borrisokane

475

Borrisoleigh

783

Clonakenny

24

Clonmore

66

Cloghjordan

410

Holycross

286

Horse&Jockey/Moycarkey

126

Kilcommon & Rearcross

427

Littleton

253

Lorrha/Rathcabbin

329

Nenagh Regional

1,529

Nenagh UDC

1,109

Newport/Ballina

676

Riverstown/Carrig

181

Roscrea

1,749

Templederry

101

Templemore Regional

1,206

Terryglass

80

Thurles UDC

2,894

Toomevara

188

Tullaheady

32

Two-Mile-Borris

208

Upperchurch

31

7.5.2 Groundwater

Refer to Section 4.2.1 on groundwater and surface water protection. The Council will take steps to ensure the quality of groundwater, and will implement the overriding principal of waste management that the 'polluter pays' in respect of any breaches of environmental laws.

7.5.3 Storm Water

Unless carefully sited and designed, new development or redevelopment can increase run off from impermeable surfaces such as roof and paved areas, which can result in problems of:

Policy SERV 1: Storm Water Retention

It is the policy of the Council to promote storm water retention facilities for new developments and to incorporate design solutions that provide for collection and recycling of surface water in accordance with Sustainable urban Drainage Systems.

There are a number of solutions to collection and retention of storm water on site. Artificial lakes and ponds can be created, open space can be flooded during storm conditions, underground storage tanks can be installed. The objective is to reduce the quantity of water and the speed of release to nearby rivers.

7.5.4 Public Water Supply

Policy SERV 2: Water Supply

It is the policy of the Council that in granting permission for new development the development shall be connected to the Council water supply, and only in exceptional circumstances will the Council consider group water or single borehole wells.

In exceptional circumstances where it is not possible or reasonable to connect to the Council network, the applicant will need to demonstrate that a suitable site is available and that sewage treatment can be accommodated without negative impact on the water source. It is an objective generally to improve and extend the water supply infrastructure to serve the planned levels of growth set out in the plan.  

7.5.5 Surface Water Treatment

The Council will require that surface water be dealt with, where possible, on site and drainage will be achieved by a combination of regulated discharge and source control (Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems). The regulated discharge method involves the construction of a traditional surface water system on site, together with storage lagoons and soakaways. The lagoons sited on open space will provide temporary storage for storm water until it can be released at a controlled rate to the nearby stream or drain. The lagoons will be dry except at times of very heavy rainfall.

7.5.6 Waste Water Treatment

The Water Services Investment Programme - Assessment of Needs (2003) identified the key projects for the improvement of sewage treatment in towns and villages in the County from 2000 to 2006. This programme has identified 30 villages that have no sewerage treatment plant. However, 4 villages are the subjects of a pilot project under the small rural village programme and new plants are planned for 2004. A further 10 villages will be identified during the 2007-2012 programme. In addition to new plants, a number of plants are identified for upgrading and improvement.

Development proposals in villages that are not within the post-2007 category will be required to install proprietary wastewater treatment plants as set out below.

7.5.6(1) Phosphate Removal Schemes

The current monitoring programmes in the Lough Derg and River Suir Catchments are highlighting the presence of high quantities of phosphates in the waters and a figure of €1.5m has been indicated to provide tertiary treatment facilities at 13 treatment plants that are located within these two catchments. Treatment plants that are presently being advanced through planning and that are within these catchments also have phosphate removal included, i.e. Thurles, Templemore and Borrisoleigh.

7.5.7 Grease and Oil Pollution

Section 4.2.4 identified oils and grease as a major problem in collecting both surface and foul water from domestic and commercial development. Restaurants, commercial kitchens, garages, are all examples of development that create waste oils and grease. The Council will require that all commercial developments demonstrate, as part of a planning application, how surface oils, kitchen oils, and other unctuous material will be contained on site and removed through recycling or other sustainable means. Failure to submit such details will delay the determination of an application.

7.5.8 Wastewater Management Policy

7.5.8 (1) Small Schemes Programme

Most of the major centres of population require implementation of the national Urban Wastewater Regulations in order to comply with EU requirements. With the exception of Templemore, which is currently being designed, all of the urban centres in North Tipperary comply with EU requirements. However, many of our rural villages will require improvements in collection and treatment.

One of the major projects proposed to be undertaken by the Water Services Section is the Small Villages 'DBO' Scheme. This scheme involves the development and operation of new wastewater treatment plants at Loughmore, Clonmore, Terryglass and Upperchurch. This is proposed as a joint project with South Tipperary County Council for schemes in Clonoulty, Hollyford and Cullen.

A second project will involve the upgrading and providing tertiary treatment at Puckane, Dromineer, Toomevara, Borrisokane, Holycross, Two-Mile-Borris, Templetouhy, Littleton, Portroe, Lorrha, Newtown, Rathcabbin and Cloghjordan.

7.5.8 (2) Serviced Land Initiative

The Serviced Land Initiative (SLI) is available to promote and fund supplementary water and sanitary schemes throughout the County. The SLI will continue to provide an additional source of funding for the implementation of water and sanitary programmes in the County over the Development Plan period.

7.5.9 Proprietary Wastewater Treatment

A stated objective of the settlement strategy in this plan is the planned expansion of our villages. The expansion of the villages in North Tipperary, whether by individual or group schemes, will require the construction of proprietary wastewater treatment schemes.

Policy SERV 3: Proprietary Wastewater Treatment
It is the policy of the Council, in granting planning permission for housing in villages, where sewage treatment facilities are inadequate, to require an applicant to provide a wastewater treatment system, and where a discharge licence is necessary to contact the Environment Section prior to making a planning application. The Council may require that the new plant is designed in excess of the immediate needs of the proposed development, the spare capacity can then be used to accommodate future development.

Refer to Section 4.2 and 8.4 in respect of groundwater protection requirements and development control standards.

Policy SERV 3(a): Pumping Stations:
It is the policy of the Council to discourage the use of communal/shared sewerage pumping stations in residential development proposals. Development proposals involving gravity based drainage systems will be the preferred solution. In exceptional circumstances, such as those that will be of strategic benefit,  proposals involving conventional pumping systems will be considered.

7.5.10 Constructed Wetlands

Constructed wetlands can be used in areas such as flood control, groundwater and surface water recharge, habitat and amenity value and wastewater treatment. However, such systems need to be professionally designed and constructed as well as carefully managed. Such systems can be used in association with existing water courses but also in association with coppicing and other constructed wetland areas. The Council supports the use of such forms of treatment provided that it can be demonstrated, to the satisfaction of the planning authority, that the proposed system will be designed to best available technology and that it will be maintained in perpetuity to a high standard. 

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