Cork County Development Plan 2022–2028 – Volume One: Main Policy Material

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   231 Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy 11.3.15 The RSES contains a range of Regional Policy Objectives which support the delivery of water services in the county. It acknowledges that the planned provision of services and infrastructure is crucial to the achievement of the RSES Strategy through targeted investment. In particular Objective RPO214 seeks to support Irish Water and the relevant Local Authorities in the region to eliminate untreated discharges from settlements in the short-term, while planning strategically for the long-term in tandem with Project Ireland 2040 and any updates to this, and in increasing compliance with the requirements of the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive. 11.3.16 The RSES also supports, through a number of RPOs, the protection of the water resource and the need to meet commitments to the objectives of the WFD and RBMP. County Development Plan Objective WM 11-1: EU Water Framework Directive and the River Basin Management Plan a) Protect and improve the County’s water resources and ensure that development permitted meets the requirements of the River Basin Management Plan and does not contravene the objectives of the EU Water Framework Directive. b) Promote compliance with the River Basin Management Plan and associated environmental standards and objectives set out in the European Communities (Environmental Objectives) Surface Water Regulations, 2009 and the European Communities (Environmental Objectives) Groundwater Regulations, 2010, to prevent deterioration; restore good status; reduce chemical pollution, and achieve water related protected areas objectives in rivers, lakes, groundwater, estuaries and coastal waters (as applicable). c) Secure the objectives and facilitate the implementation of the associated Programme of Measures of the River Basin Management Plan 2018-2021 and any successor plan for ground, surface, estuarine, coastal and transitional waters in the Plan area as part of the implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive. d) Support an integrated and collaborative approach to local catchment management in order to assist in the implementation of the River Basin Management Plan. e) In acknowledgement of the sustained pressures on ecological status being experienced in Blue Dot catchment waterbodies, additional measures, as deemed necessary to protect and restore these waterbodies to high status may be required for development permitted in such catchments. Measures may include, but are not limited to, a water management plan (including the construction phase), tertiary treatment and appropriate SUDs measures. f) Support the prioritisation of the provision of water services infrastructure in: • Metropolitan Cork, the Key Towns and Main Towns to complement the overall strategy for economic and population growth while ensuring appropriate protection of the environment. • All settlements where services are not meeting current needs, are failing to meet the requirements of the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive, and where these deficiencies are − interfering with Councils ability to meet the requirements of the Water Framework Directive; or − having negative impacts on Natura 2000 sites; and g) Development may only proceed where appropriate wastewater treatment is available which meets the requirements of environmental legislation, the Water Framework Directive and the requirements of the Habitats Directive. 11.3.17 The European Communities Environmental Objectives Surface Waters Regulations 2009, (S.I. No. 272 of 2009), as amended, apply to all surface waters and institute a wide-ranging set of environmental standards for Irish surface waters, giving effect to the requirements of the Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC). County Development Plan Objective WM 11-2: Surface Water Protection a) Protect and improve the status and quality of all surface waters throughout the County, including transitional and coastal waters. b) At least secondary treatment should be provided to all wastewater discharges from any new development, to surface waters. GO TO CONTENTS

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   232 Groundwater Protection 11.3.18 Groundwater is a natural resource with both an ecological and economic value. It is of vital importance for sustaining life, health, agriculture and the integrity of ecosystems. This is particularly true in North Cork where 90% of the water supply comes from groundwater sources. Groundwater also contributes to our rivers, lakes and sea and therefore influences their amenity and recreational value. The quality of groundwater is threatened by worsening pollution levels, directly attributable to human activities. The main threats to groundwater include intensive agriculture, land spreading of pig and cattle slurry and hatchery wastes, other farmyard wastes such as silage effluent and soiled water and septic tank effluent. Once contaminated, groundwater is difficult and expensive to clean. 11.3.19 The European Communities Environmental Objectives Groundwater Regulations 2010, (S.I. No. 9 of 2010), gave effect to the requirements of the Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC) and the Groundwater Directive (2006/118/EC). These regulations established environmental objectives to be achieved in groundwater bodies, groundwater quality standards and threshold values for the classification of groundwater and the protection of groundwater against pollution and deterioration in groundwater quality. The EU Drinking Water Directive relates to drinking water & other associated uses related to consumption of water, or products where potable water is used in processing them for consumption. 11.3.20 Where necessary, the Council will use its statutory powers under the relevant environmental and planning legislation to protect groundwater resources in the County. 11.3.21 A groundwater protection scheme, prepared by the Geological Survey of Ireland (GSI), incorporates land surface zoning and groundwater protection responses. The Council recognises the importance of preparing groundwater protection schemes to ensure that key aquifers and groundwater resources in the County are identified and protected. 11.3.22 The Geological Survey of Ireland (GSI) has compiled a Groundwater Protection Scheme for Cork County Council that examines the soil, subsoil, and rocks in the County to determine what the vulnerability of each part of the County is and provides a vulnerability rating. The Plan includes: • Assessment and categorisation of the vulnerability of Groundwater. • Mapping lands in accordance with their vulnerability categorisation. The GSI Groundwater Vulnerability Mapping can be accessed here. • Development of Protection Response Matrices. The most common one in the planning context is the Groundwater Response Matrix for one off housing wastewater treatment which can be accessed here. 11.3.23 In association with the Groundwater Vulnerability mapping, the GSI, EPA, and Department of the Housing, Local Government and Heritage have developed a guide on the restrictions that apply to each vulnerability type to protect the groundwater in general. This guide, where restrictions for various land uses are given, can be accessed here. 11.3.24 The catchment area around a groundwater source, which contributes water (Zone of Contribution) to a borehole or spring, is known as a Source Protection Zone. The GSI have prepared Groundwater Source Protection reports for a number of public supplies in Cork and these are available on the GSI website. The GSI viewer also has links to groundwater flood zones and no development will be considered in areas subject to groundwater flooding where surface water flows cannot release the floodwaters. 11.3.25 There are many public, Group Water Supply Schemes and Private Estate Water Supplies where there are no specific Source Protection Reports available. In all cases, where more than one house is involved and a public or GWSS does not have sufficient capacity or is not close enough to serve a development, the services of a professional hydrogeologist will need to be employed, to carry out the tests in accordance with the Council’s Borehole Requirements, set out in Table 11.2. Risks from sewer or other contamination of the groundwater source will need to be avoided, and specific groundwater safety plans for the proposed development will be provided including the inner and outer zones of contribution. In the absence of other data, the inner zone of contribution is assumed to be the area having 100 days time of travel to the abstraction point and the outer zone of contribution will be the area having 1 years time of travel at the normal time of travel for the abstraction rate at the driest time of the year. All planning applications shall include details of the developments and land use on the adjoining lands showing the location of all sources of potential pollution and all water abstraction points with their zones of contribution including the proposed site. 11.3.26 The Councils Groundwater Protection Scheme is a generalised plan and does not consider well sources and is only aimed at protecting the general groundwater resource from contamination. In all cases where groundwater is being used as a water supply source or where effluent is being discharged to ground, or both, a report on the impact of the proposed development on existing infrastructure will have to be provided. The best hydrogeological advice available should be sought and on-site testing for both the effluent disposal system and the water supply system should be carried out at an early stage to ensure that both can be adequately accommodated on the site. It should be borne in mind that the development must respect the existing land uses and developments on adjoining sites. While karst regions generally yield hard water in abundant quantities, their vulnerability is generally extreme and this needs to be properly considered in abstracting and treating groundwater for consumption. In the case of public water supplies, a comprehensive professional hydrogeologists report considering source protection areas will have to be provided to ensure that there is no negative impact on existing public water supplies. GO TO CONTENTS

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   233 11.3.27 The Nitrates Directive (91/676/EEC) calls for the protection of water from excessive nitrates which make it unsuitable for use as drinking water. While agriculture is the principal source, nitrates are also contained in significant quantities in wastewater effluent. Particular attention should be paid to this when there is more than one house being built such as in ribbon, cluster or infill development in an area where the houses have independent septic tanks and percolation areas. Calculations need to be done to ensure that the site is of sufficient size to safely assimilate the effluent from the development and ensure that neither the dwelling itself, or any of its neighbour’s groundwater is raised above the Directive threshold by the proposed development. Table 11.2: Borehole Requirements In cases where a borehole is being proposed as the source of water for a group of houses the following conditions should be complied with in advance of planning: • A full and complete professional hydrogeologists report should be provided addressing the following in relation to the proposed supply. The report should be carried out by a professional hydrogeologist with professional indemnity insurance. • Proposals to supply and maintain the proposed development with a water supply, which complies with the Drinking Water Directive quality standards. The estimated water requirement is 1 cubic metre per house per day. A minimum of 2.5 days of storage capacity should be provided, 50% raw water storage and 50% treated storage. • A detailed hydrogeological assessment of the proposed abstraction together with details of the impact of the proposed abstraction on existing water sources, and the impact of existing sources of contamination on quality shall be provided. • The source and zone of contribution will be assessed in compliance with the DOE/EPA/GSI manual on Groundwater Protection Schemes. • The borehole should be test pumped for a minimum of 72 hours once static pumping conditions have been reached (or for such longer period as is determined by the hydrogeologist to be required during the test) to determine the safe yield, static water level, drawdown, and where possible or relevant cone of depression and influence. Above should be carried out in line with best professional practice. • Two water samples should be taken in the latter period of test following stabilisation. Test results, from a testing facility accredited under ISO 17025:2017, should be submitted showing that the water complies with the EU Drinking Water Regulations 2000. Where the water is not in compliance, detailed proposals for treatment of the water to bring it into compliance must be provided. • Full borehole logs should be submitted indicating the location of all strata, water strikes, etc. 11.3.28 The EPA issued the Code of Practice Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems (Population Equivalent ≤ 10) in March 2021. The purpose of this Code of Practice is to provide guidance on the provision of wastewater treatment systems for new single houses with a population equivalent (p.e.) of less than or equal to 10, and in order to ensure the protection of the receiving environment, development proposals for single houses will be required to comply with the measures outlined in the Code of Practice. County Development Plan Objective WM 11-3: Groundwater Protection a) Preserve and protect groundwater and surface water quality throughout the County. b) Prevent or limit, as appropriate, the input of pollutants into groundwater and prevent the deterioration of the status of all bodies of groundwater. c) Protect, enhance and restore all bodies of groundwater and ensure a balance between abstraction and recharge of groundwater with the aim of achieving good groundwater quantitative status and good groundwater chemical status. d) Reverse any significant and sustained upward trend in the concentration of any pollutant resulting from the impact of human activity in order to progressively reduce pollution of groundwater. e) Achieve compliance with any standards and objectives established for a groundwater dependant protected area included in the register of protected areas. County Development Plan Objective WM 11-4: Groundwater Protection Schemes and Zones In order to protect groundwater quality, new developments must have regard to any Groundwater Protection Scheme and/or Groundwater Protection Zones in place and existing developments and abstractions. GO TO CONTENTS

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   234 County Development Plan Objective WM 11-5: Discharges in Unsewered Areas a) Ensure that proposals for development incorporating on-site wastewater disposal systems comply with the EPA Code of Practice Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems March 2021 (Population Equivalent ≤ 10) and Wastewater Treatment Manual - Treatment Systems for Small Communities, Business Centres, Leisure Centres and Hotels (1999), or relevant successor approved standards / guidelines (including design, installation and maintenance). The cumulative impact of such systems will also be considered in the assessment process. b) Continue to support the roll out of the National Inspection Plan 2018–21 for domestic waste-water treatment systems, and any successor plans, with prioritisation of Blue Dot Catchments and Protected Areas. c) Protect the County’s waters from wastewater pollution, through the implementation of the Local Government (Water Pollution) Acts 1977 to 2007, ensuring that all development shall comply with the provisions where applicable. Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters 11.3.29 As stated above, excess levels of Nitrates are a health hazard in drinking water and also contribute to eutrophication especially in coastal and marine waters. The Nitrates Directive (91/676/EEC) has the objective of reducing water pollution caused or induced by nitrates from agricultural sources and requires Ireland to put in place a Nitrates Action Programme to be reviewed at least every four years. 11.3.30 Ireland’s first Nitrates Action Programme was reviewed in 2017 and a revised Action Programme was given effect through S.I. 605 of 2017, European Union (Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters) Regulations 2017. The regulations contain measures including closed periods that prohibit the spreading of fertilisers, limits on the amount of livestock manure that may be land-spread, conditions during which fertilisers may not be spread, and livestock manure storage capacity requirements. The regulations require that all new storage facilities for livestock manure or silage must comply with Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine construction specifications. County Development Plan Objective WM 11-6: Protection from Agricultural Pollution Protect the County’s waters from agricultural pollution in accordance with the Nitrates Directive (91/676/EEC) through the implementation of the European Union (Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters) Regulations 2017 (SI 605 of 2017) or any future revised / additional requirements and ensuring that all agricultural development shall comply with those Regulations. 11.4 Irish Water Plans and Programmes 11.4.1 Irish Water (IW) assumed responsibility for water services in 2014 and has developed a seven-year Business Plan for the period 2015 to 2021. The plan outlines the status of the water services infrastructure across the country and identifies a number of investment priorities for the organisation including upgrading drinking water treatment plants and reducing leakage in the drinking water supply network to 38% nationally by 2021 (at 49% nationally in 2015); completing repairs to the sewer network, provision of new Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs) to bring raw discharges to an end by 2021 and providing additional capacity in the drinking water and sewer networks etc. 11.4.2 In 2015, Irish Water published the Water Services Strategic Plan, a 25-year Plan which as well as detailing current and future challenges affecting water services, identifies priorities to be addressed in the medium term. Solutions in these priority areas are delivered through capital and other projects outlined in Irish Waters Investment Plan, a multi annual plan covering a five-year horizon. 11.4.3 This County Development Plan has been prepared having regard to the most up to date Irish Water Investment Plan covering the period 2020-2024 (Revenue Control Period 3), which was amended and approved by the Commission of the Regulation of Utilities in the Summer of 2020. 11.4.4 Irish Water have commenced the preparation of a National Water Resource Plan, a 25-year strategic plan that will outline how it is intended to move towards a sustainable, secure and reliable public drinking water supply and how Irish Water intends to maintain the balance between supply from water sources and demand for drinking water in the short, medium and long term whilst protecting the environment. The full options assessment stage of the Plan is progressing in Cork and a draft of the Plan will be launched for statutory public consultation in 2021. 11.4.5 In order to provide for growth in smaller settlements already served by Irish Water infrastructure and not otherwise provided for in the current Investment Plan, Irish Water have developed a Small Towns and Villages Growth Programme. Funding of €17.9m has been allocated to Cork County Council for the period 2020-2024. GO TO CONTENTS

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   235 11.4.6 The National Recovery and Resilience Plan includes provision for a new €20m funding programme, River Basin Management Plan – Enhanced Ambition Programme, which seeks to achieve the upgrading of a minimum of 10 wastewater treatment plants nationally not currently scheduled for upgrade, whose discharges have been identified as being significant pressures on receiving water bodies. Feasibility studies for a further 20 wastewater treatment plant projects will also be completed. 11.4.7 Furthermore, the National Certificate Authorisation Programme makes provision for investment in smaller wastewater treatment plants (<500PE) to support future proofing and facilitate growth. The Council will support the implementation of any projects in the County arising from these programmes. 11.5 Capacity of the Receiving Water Environment 11.5.1 Water quality data back to 2007 shows a worrying trend up to 2015, with deterioration in the number of waterbodies achieving good status and corresponding increases in the number of moderate and poor ranked waterbodies. An improvement can be seen for the period 2013-2018 with a notable increase in the percentage of good quality surface waters. Unfortunately, the percentage of high status water surface waters has decreased by 6% to the lowest level on record since 2007. There is clearly considerable room for improvement and investment in water services infrastructure will contribute to reversing this decline. Climate Change Considerations 11.5.2 Climate change will have significant effects on the availability of water sources and on the capacity of water bodies to assimilate wastewater discharges through lower water levels in rivers and lakes in longer and drier summer periods but also through the impact of extreme weather events such as flooding on water services infrastructure. The impact of climate change on the water cycle and the resultant impact on water services therefore needs to be carefully considered. The effects of climate change are already being felt in our communities, such as the drought experienced in Clonakilty in 2018 or the flooding problems experienced in many of the County’s towns. It is of paramount importance that water services infrastructure is resilient to the impacts of climate change. Opportunities for rainwater harvesting should be considered where appropriate, to reduce the volume of clean water required for those elements of water use that do not require water of a drinking standard, such as common place activities like garden irrigation, car washing, or toilet flushing in a domestic situation, but also at a commercial scale for farm yards or industrial buildings. County Development Plan Objective WM 11-7: Climate Change a) The design and planning of water services infrastructure will fully consider the potential impacts of climate change and the need for measures to increase the resilience of this infrastructure to any such impacts. b) Encourage the implementation of rainwater harvesting and water recycling, both in new development or retrospectively, so as to minimise the need for use of drinking standard water for those activities for which it is not required. Sensitive Water Catchments River Blackwater Catchment 11.5.3 During the preparation of this Plan, as in previous plans, a potential significant challenge was identified in the achievement of the water quality standards required to restore the favourable conservation condition of the Freshwater Pearl Mussel in the River Blackwater Catchment. The European Union Environmental Objectives (Freshwater Pearl Mussel) (Amendment) Regulations made in 2018, had the effect that the Munster Blackwater (main channel) was removed from the list of habitats of the freshwater pearl mussel and the landuse strategy in the 2017 Local Area Plans was pursued on this basis. However, following a successful Judicial Review, these Regulations were quashed, and matters reverted to the position set out in S.I. 296/2009 European Union Environmental Objectives (Freshwater Pearl Mussel) Regulations 2009 in which the Munster Blackwater (main channel) was included in a list of habitats of the freshwater pearl mussel. 11.5.4 In light of these developments, the Council engaged with stakeholders including the Department for Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the National Parks and Wildlife Service, confirming that there are no plans to revisit their earlier proposal to remove the Munster Blackwater main channel from the 2009 Regulations, and advancing discussions on scientific matters to inform decision making on the future landuse strategy in the catchment. 11.5.6 As a result, and as part of the Appropriate Assessment of the Plan, a detailed assessment has been undertaken on the capacity of this sensitive water catchment to absorb the population increases set out in the plan with specific reference to the wastewater infrastructure in place to cater for this planned population growth. The outcome of this assessment has been used to inform the population growth targeted for the Blackwater catchment and is reflected in the Core Strategy set out in Chapter 2 and further elaborated on in relevant settlements in Volume Three North Cork. GO TO CONTENTS

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   236 Cork Harbour 11.5.7 An ecological assessment of the North Channel of Cork Harbour was carried out during the development of the previous Plan and it concluded that the conservation status of this habitat type will not be compromised by the proposed population targets in the Plan if the proposed upgrades to the WWTPs at Midleton and Carrigtwohill are delivered in advance of allowing new development to proceed. The upgrades to Carrigtwohill are complete and a load diversion project to bring wastewater to Carrigtwohill from Water Rock in Midleton is planned to be connected by 2023 and additional areas in the town by 2026. The current combined population targets for Carrigtwohill and Midleton are lower than that of the previous plan and the full implementation of the upgrades in Carrigtwohill have been completed. 11.5.8 Irish Water have committed to a Cork Harbour Modelling Study the purpose of which is to provide a calibrated and validated strategic water quality model, built to best practice and with up-to-date field data, and this model will be the basis for the future assessments of impacts of Irish Water activities on Cork Harbour. In advance of the full study commencing in 2021, Irish Water are working on a short-term/interim study using the model of Cork Lower Harbour developed under the Whitegate/Aghada Untreated Agglomerations Study. The modelling will be used to support the Wastewater Discharge licence review for the new Cork Lower Harbour WWTP at Shanbally, among other uses. Dunmanway 11.5.9 The issue of discharges from the Dunmanway Wastewater Treatment Plant and overflows from the pumping station at Long Bridge arose during the preparation of both the County Development Plan, 2014 and the West Cork Municipal District Local Area Plan, 2017. The discharge from the plant is directly into the Bandon River within the SAC and within an area known to support a population of Freshwater Pearl Mussel. Cork County Council is working with other stakeholders in particular Irish Water and the National Parks and Wildlife Service to address this issue. Pending resolution of the issue, and in compliance with the requirements of Various European Directives and the River Basin Management Plan any new development in Dunmanway which discharges into the Bandon SAC will have to be put on hold. This approach is also reflected in Table 11.3 and this needs to be resolved if planned development is not to be delayed. Glenbeg Lough/ Glanmore Bog SAC 11.5.10 The abstraction point for drinking water for Castletownbere and Ardgroom is Glenbeg Lough which lies in the Glanmore Bog SAC. The current levels of abstraction have been identified to be having negative consequences for freshwater habitats associated with this lake, so new development will not be permitted where it would result in an increase in the volume of water required to be abstracted from Glenbeg Lough. Abstraction Licensing Legislation 11.5.11 The EU Water Framework Directive requires Ireland to have a system in place for the registration and control of the abstraction of water. A commitment to introduce legislation in this area was included in the “River Basin Management Plan 2018 – 2021” which was published in April 2018. 11.5.12 The European Union (Water Policy) (Abstractions Registration) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 261 of 2018) made under the European Communities Act 1972, has established a register of abstractions to be managed by the EPA which came into effect on 16 July 2018. 11.5.13 The Government approved the General Scheme of a Water Environment (Abstractions) Bill 2018 on 29 September 2020 which will repeal the Water Supplies Act 1942 and part of the Local Government (Sanitary Services) Act 1964 and replace them with a new stand-alone piece of primary legislation governing the abstraction of water. This Bill proposes a three-tiered registration and licensing system for the abstraction of water, with the EPA responsible for establishing and maintaining a database of registrations and for licensing. 1. At the lowest tier, all abstractors will need to abide by a set of general binding rules relating to water conservation and public health issues. Abstractors of 25 cubic metres or more per day will be required to register with the EPA. Thereafter, only those abstracting very large quantities of water will be required to apply to the EPA for a licence; 2. Abstractors of 2,000 cubic metres or more in any 24-hour period will automatically be required to apply for a licence; 3. Those abstracting 250 cubic metres or more in any 24-hour period in specific areas, where the EPA deems the abstractions to be of potential significance, will also be required to apply for a licence. It is estimated that around 6% of water bodies in Ireland are potentially at environmental risk due to abstraction pressures. 11.5.14 The Bill is expected to be signed into law in 2022. The Act will have an effect on all future abstractions in relation to public water supply, requiring registration over 25 cubic metres and licensing over 2,000 cubic metres or 250 cubic metres in any 24-hour period depending on the sensitivity of the water body. The changes in licensing legislation will be taken into account by Irish Water as part of the National Water Resources Plan. GO TO CONTENTS

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   237 Emission Limit Values (ELVs) 11.5.15 In many instances, the Emission Limit Value standards set by the EPA when licensing treatment plants are significantly higher than the requirements of the Urban Wastewater Directive (UWWD). Some of these ELV standards cannot consistently be achieved even by relatively modern plants without significant upgrades. This is a national issue not unique to Cork but it occurs in several locations across the County. 11.5.16 In assessing the capacity of a WWTP to cater for future development where an ELV issue pertains, the assessment has been based on the hydraulic and organic loadings of the treatment plant relative to its design capacity on the assumption that the ELV issue will be resolved in an approach that will be determined/ agreed at a national level in the context of the National Development Plan and the National Planning Framework. 11.6 Overall Strategy for Water Services 11.6.1 In line with the objectives to protect water quality and the receiving environment outlined above and the achievement of the growth targets outlined in the Core Strategy, the Plan will implement a water services strategy as follows: Water Services Strategy Framework Alignment with Core Strategy Themes Water Quality Infrastructure Flooding Initiatives Blue Dot Catchments Inland Fisheries Ireland Guidance Document Tiered Approach to Zoning Compact growth & sequential development Nature Based Solutions SUDS Tiered Approach to Zoning Plan Response Objectives Objectives Objectives Programmes and Measures Local Authorities Water Programme Water Services Strategic Plan National Water Resources Plan Irish Water Investment Plan Find and Fix Small Towns and Villages Growth Programme Mains Rehabilitation Developer Provided Infrastructure Initiative CFRAMS National Indicative Fluvial Mapping Strategic Flood Risk Assessment Targets and Monitoring RBMP/ LAWPRO EPA Monitoring Data Water Services Capacity Register Fig. 11.2 Water Services Strategy 11.7 Water Services Capacity 11.7.1 The Draft Guidelines on Water Services (published January 2018) emphasise the importance of Planning Authorities ascertaining the current position with regard to water services when preparing a plan. The Guidelines indicate that “the quantum, location and distribution of new development must have regard to the capacity of public water services and make efficient use of, and maximise the capacity of, existing and planned water services infrastructure.” 11.7.2 As outlined, the National Planning Framework establishes a requirement for a Tiered Approach to Zoning (TAZ) comprising Tier 1 lands which are residential lands that are currently serviced and Tier 2 lands which are residential lands that will become serviced in the lifetime of the Plan. To ensure compliance with the above requirements an assessment has been undertaken of the capacity of water services for each settlement in the County and this has informed the approach to zoning across the County. 11.7.3 The assessment of capacity in this Plan is based on best available information at the time of preparation in relation to water and wastewater treatment plants, however, developers should engage directly with Irish Water at pre-planning stage to confirm the availability and suitability of water services, in particular network upgrades or extensions. Where network upgrades or extensions are required these will be developer funded unless there are committed Irish Water projects in place to progress such works. Evidence of consultation with Irish Water should be submitted with development applications as appropriate. 11.7.4 The following capacity schedule outlines the status of towns with respect to water services infrastructure. GO TO CONTENTS

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   238 Table 11.3 Capacity of Current Water Services Infrastructure to accommodate planned Population Growth 2020-2028 Main Towns, Strategic Employment Locations and Key Villages >1,500 Typology Town Drinking Water Waste Water Planned Development May Proceed Infrastructure in Place Main Towns Buttevant Carrigaline Fermoy Millstreet Passage West/ Glenbrook/ Monkstown Schull Strategic Employment Locations Little Island Ringaskiddy Key Villages >1,500 Glounthaune Watergrasshill~ Further Infrastructure Upgrades Required Main Towns Bandon Bantry Carrigtwohill Charleville Cobh Kanturk Mallow Newmarket~ Skibbereen~ Key Villages >1,500 Castlemartyr~ Crosshaven and Bays Killumney/ Ovens Rathcormack~ Strategic Infrastructure Deficit Main Towns Castletownbere Clonakilty Dunmanway~ Kinsale~ Macroom~ Midleton Mitchelstown~ Monard Youghal Key Villages >1,500 Cloyne~ Whitegate/ Aghada March 2021 Current major infrastructure sufficient to achieve planned population target. Any development which would have an adverse impact will be put on hold until resolution of issues relating to impact on water quality in sensitive water catchments. Future capacity subject to implementation of projects on the Irish Water Investment Plan (Revenue Control Period 3) or aligned programmes. Any development which would have an adverse impact will be put on hold until resolution of issues relating to impact on water quality in sensitive water catchments. Some development may proceed but significant works/EPA licence required to accommodate planned population target. Capacity can be achieved in some instances through process optimisation or implementation of non-capital projects. Any development which would have an adverse impact will be put on hold until resolution of issues relating to impact on water quality in sensitive water catchments. Strategic Infrastructure Deficit. Planned Development may require further infrastructure investment not provided for on any existing programme and/or EPA license compliance issues to be ~ The Wastewater Treatment Plant is currently not compliant with Wastewater Discharge License Emission Limit Values set by the EPA. GO TO CONTENTS

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   239 11.8 Drinking Water 11.8.1 The availability of a drinking water supply is essential for public health and the economic growth of the County. However, the need to balance the growing demand for water with the needs of the environment and those of existing users is crucial and is particularly important for areas where demand for water will increase. Population growth, increasing pressures for new development across the County and changing trends in water use will lead to increased demand for water. 11.8.2 Cork benefits from having significant natural resources with substantial water abstraction infrastructure already in place including the hydroelectric dam on the River Lee at Inniscarra. However, a number of key settlements, including the Key Town of Clonakilty face considerable challenges in meeting their existing and future capacity needs. These deficits are highlighted in Table 11.3. 11.8.3 Much of the focus of Irish Water in recent years has been on environmental compliance and reducing unaccounted for water through national programmes such as Find and Fix and mains replacement and while these interventions continue, provision must be made for investment to deliver the scale of growth envisaged in this Plan. Funding schemes such as the Small Towns and Village Growth Programme are acknowledged but the reality is that the demands on capital will continue to exceed availability. 11.8.4 Preliminary work on the National Water Resource Plan has informed the conclusions on the availability of water supply infrastructure for this Plan and once complete, the investment required to facilitate planned growth through the solutions identified will be clearer. 11.8.5 Many of the supplies in the more remote or rural areas of the County are individual wells serving farms and single houses. Some of these areas continue to have problems with water quality and the Rural Water Programme has to date provided funds, which are administered by Cork County Council for ‘grant aided schemes’ to improve the water quality in such cases. 11.8.6 Many of the existing private group water schemes have unreliable sources of water. Many are supplied from public water supply schemes which now have inadequate capacity. Resources will need to be provided to increase the capacity of these schemes and the connected group water schemes. Some rely on groundwater and some on surface water supplies as their source. Many of these are prone to being contaminated because of their proximity to pollution arising from the discharge of effuent from nearby developments e.g., septic tanks for individual houses or agricultural activities. Therefore, the protection of existing underlying aquifers which supply the schemes is paramount. Water Abstraction 11.8.7 Water abstraction can pose a potential risk to water bodies due to their possible impact on river flows and lake levels particularly during periods of low flow. Through the assessment exercises for the development of the National Water Resource Plan, detailed consideration will be given to the effect future demand will have on the environment. This detailed consideration, including environmental appraisal and identification of sustainable abstraction levels will give greater clarity on the most appropriate location for abstraction facilities and the relative impact of the abstraction on the water body and surrounding environment and including the implications of climate change. Water Conservation 11.8.8 Irish Water has committed to reducing water leakage and the replacement of lead services nationally as part of its mandate to ensure that communities have clean safe drinking water. The current UFW (unaccounted for water)/leakage in Cork County is 41%, which is a marked improvement from the previous plan period which recorded leakage at 49%. The Council continue to meet the annual leakage targets set by Irish Water. A significant upgrade and replacement of water mains in Carrigaline, Mallow, Kinsale, Charleville, Laharan Cross to Abbeys Well, Glantane to Lombardstown, Macroom and Doneraile have been completed. Further improvements are planned to meet Irish Water’s Business Plan which has a national target figure of 38% by 2021. County Development Plan Objective WM 11-8: Water Supply a) Support the prioritisation of the supply of adequate sustainable drinking water for the resident population and invest and expand the water supply in line with future population targets. b) Ensure that all drinking water in the County complies with the European Union Drinking Water Directive 98/83/EC and that all surface water and groundwater supplies comply with the requirements of Surface Water Directive 75/440/EC and Groundwater Directive 80/68/EEC. c) Conserve sources of drinking water and minimise threats to either the quality or quantity of drinking water reserves that might result from different forms of development or development activity and other sources of pollution. GO TO CONTENTS

10. Page 240

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    240 11.9 Wastewater Disposal 11.9.1 There have been significant advances in the upgrading of wastewater treatment and disposal in recent years, particularly for Cork Harbour. The ongoing implementation of the Cork Lower Harbour Main Drainage Scheme has seen the completion of a state-of-the-art treatment facility at Shanbally (65,000 PE) and wastewater from the towns of Carrigaline, Crosshaven and Ringaskiddy has been treated at the plant since 2018 and Passage West, Glenbrook and Monkstown since June 2019. The final stages involving works to connect the town of Cobh via an estuary crossing are ongoing and the project is due to be fully complete in Q4 2021. The full implementation of the scheme will see the treatment of the equivalent of 40,000 wheelie bins of sewage per day that previously went untreated into the Harbour. 11.9.2 Similarly, significant upgrades have been completed for Clonakilty (20,500 PE) and Carrigtwohill (30,000 PE) as well as smaller schemes such as Riverstick (1,000PE). Further projects to provide capacity are also planned to be implemented in the short term in Mallow, Whitegate/ Aghada, Ballycotton, Castletownbere, Castletownsend and Inchigeelagh. These recent and planned improvements are welcome however, continued investment by Irish Water is required to maintain and upgrade the numerous plants serving towns and villages throughout the County. 11.9.3 In the main settlements, new developments must always connect to a public wastewater treatment system. To support the preparation of County Development Plans and to inform the Tiered Approach to Zoning, Irish Water have prepared a Wastewater Capacity Register which indicates the current treatment capacity to accommodate growth. Planned growth has been directed to those settlements with existing wastewater treatment capacity or a reasonable prospect of having such capacity within the lifetime of the Plan through listing on the Irish Water Investment Plan. As such, development may need to coordinate with the provision of planned infrastructure in a particular area or location. 11.9.4 The adoption of the Urban Wastewater Treatment and Wastewater Discharge Regulations mean that Water Services Authority discharges from wastewater facilities must accord with EPA requirements. Irish Water’s Wastewater Capacity Register identifies 22 treatment plants where the Emission Limit Values of the licence issued by the EPA cannot currently be met. In parallel, the Water Framework Directive, through River Basin Management Plans requires that the water environment is managed with the aim of achieving ‘good status’ or restoring high status. 11.9.5 The assimilative capacity of the County’s waterbodies is not infinite, and it is considered important, when assessing individual development proposals involving abstraction or dilution of discharges, that sufficient assimilative capacity is retained so as to allow for the continued growth of the overall settlement and avoiding the unsustainable exploitation of the watercourse. Integrated Constructed Wetlands 11.9.6 Constructed wetlands are created for the purpose of treating wastewater from small, rural communities in an environmentally sustainable way before allowing it to return to the water system safely thereby protecting water quality. Properly designed and operated integrated constructed wetlands are a sustainable water management tool that offer the opportunity to enhance wetland ecosystems services and support biodiversity. 11.9.7 The extensive size and water demands of some Integrated Constructed Wetlands will require consideration of the impact of surface water abstractions to sustain the wetlands during periods of dry weather or drought periods, including impacts on the assimilative capacity of the watercourse from which any abstraction is taken and ensuring the ecological status of all waters is protected and where possible improved in accordance with the requirements of the Water Framework Directive. County Development Plan Objective WM 11-9: Wastewater Disposal a) Require that development in all settlements connect to public wastewater treatment facilities subject to sufficient capacity being available which does not interfere with Council’s ability to meet the requirements of the Water Framework Directive and the Habitats Directive. In settlements where no public wastewater system is either available or proposed, or where design, capacity or licensing issues have been identified in existing plants, new developments will be unable to proceed until adequate wastewater infrastructure is provided. b) In assessing proposals for development, it is a requirement that adequate assimilative capacity in the receiving waterbody be retained so as to allow for the overall growth of the settlement. c) Development proposals incorporating proposals for management of wastewater through use of Integrated Constructed Wetlands should be designed to comply with national guidelines. d) Development in and around Wastewater Treatment Plants will not generally be permitted within 100m of a treatment works or 25m of a pumping station. This distance may be increased if significant environmental issues are likely to arise and will be judged on a site by site basis. The buffer area may be used to fulfil open space requirements. 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Source Cork County Council: Cork County Development Plan 2022–2028 – Volume One: Main Policy Material (2022–2028) · Licence the publisher's termsText read from the publisher’s PDF; tables, maps and drawings do not survive as text, and page numbers are the PDF’s (its first page is 1). Check the original before relying on a passage.