Regional Sewage Treatment site agreed for Garff
Manx Utilities are pleased to confirm the preferred location for the new Sewage Treatment works for the communities of Laxey and Baldrine.
Following a comprehensive review of over 50 potential sites, considering land availability, proximity to residential areas, highway access for operational vehicles, environmental and ecological issues, carbon and whole life costs, the proposed location is within the North Eastern extent of the Axnfell Plantation.
The site footprint has been minimised to reduce visible and environmental impacts, whilst still allowing space for potential future expansion. Where possible the site will be screened and any tree loss will be mitigated by additional planting of native, broadleaf trees both on site and at other Manx Utilities owned sites in the area. The plantation is one of our Island’s many managed sites where tree-felling happens regularly. The land will be transferred to Manx Utilities ownership from the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture.
The treatment process at Axnfell and the provision of UV treatment at the Cairn for storm flows will not prevent the “Excellent” bathing water quality standard being achieved in Laxey. A turbine, housed on the effluent pipeline at the Cairn site, will enable a significant amount of the electricity used to pump sewage up to the Axnfell site to be recovered, reducing the carbon footprint of the scheme.
Meeting this milestone on the programme now enables the mobilisation of equipment and contractors to start the important task of carrying out ground investigations to allow designs to be completed and for the submission of planning application for the works later in the year. Prior to the submission of the application Manx Utilities will be hosting a public exhibition event, to allow the community to comment on the proposals. Further details of pipeline routes and intermediate pumping station locations will be released in due course following environmental appraisals and discussions with interested parties.
Chair, Tim Crookall MHK said, “I would like to thank our colleagues at DEFA for supporting the progression of a regional sewage treatment site for Garff, and for the community’s patience. Finally, we can get on with delivering a modern sewage treatment process for Garff as outlined in the Island Plan and ultimately cease the pumping of raw sewage to sea on the coasts of our Island.”
