County Donegal Development Plan 2024–2030 (As Varied)

1. Page 161

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   County Donegal Development Plan 2024-2030 (As Varied) 158 Chapter 8 Infrastructure W ater Services I nfrastructure Resolution P rogram m e aims to progressively facilitate the resolution of such developer provided infrastructure (DPI) to support their taking in charge, including connecting these developments to the Irish Water wastewater network and decommissioning such infrastructure or the provision of on-site sustainable treatment technologies. The Council recognises the resolution of DPI issues as a key priority for the plan and will therefore advance appropriate solutions to such issues through the above programme. Donegal also has a high and increasing reliance on individual domestic wastewater treatment systems in the county, with 30,345 systems registered in the County in 202018 and many commercial developments in unsewered areas also relying on individual treatment systems. In particular the EPA Report on Domestic Waste Water Treatment System Inspections 2021 found that 36% of the 121 systems inspected in Donegal failed and that lack of maintenance and desludging were key factors. This highlights the need to avoid the proliferation of, and rigorously assess proposals for such systems. 8.2.4 Water Quality in Donegal Figure 8.2.1 Water Framework Directive Ecological Status of Water Bodies in Donegal 2016-2021 Figure 8.2.2 Significant Pressures impacting At Risk Waterbodies. 18 Source: https://www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/er/dwwts/domesticwastewatertreatmentsystems2020

2. Page 162

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   County Donegal Development Plan 2024-2030 (As Varied) 159 Chapter 8 Infrastructure EPA water quality data broadly indicates that 55.7% of monitored river bodies, 20.7% of lake water bodies, and 20.5% have a less than good status but all groundwater bodies were recorded as having good status in Donegal. Furthermore, catchment level assessments indicate that agriculture, forestry, urban wastewater and domestic wastewater are the most significant pressures affecting WFD ‘At Risk’ waterbodies. As Ireland is required to achieve at least Good status in all water bodies by 2027 under the EU Water Framework Directive this underlines the significant challenge that remains in terms of achieving satisfactory water quality in Donegal. 8.2.5 Relevant Legal and Planning Frameworks and Guidelines The Water Framework Directive (WFD) is the primary legal instrument regarding water quality in the EU. The WFD applies to rivers, lakes, groundwater, estuaries and coastal waters. In summary it aims to: • Prevent deterioration in the existing status of all water bodies. • Protect, enhance, and restore all water bodies with the aim of achieving good water status by 2027 at the latest. • Achieve compliance with the standards and requirements for designated protected areas. The WFD is implemented through River Basin Management Plans including a Programme of Measures (POM) to protect and restore water. In planning terms, the POMs in the Draft River Basin Management Plan 2022-2027 emphasises the importance of ensuring effective water management and compatibility between planned growth and environmental sustainability both at a strategic level and when considering applications. It also highlights the need to manage developments which may affect hydromorphology, invest in urban wastewater treatment particularly where urban discharges are a significant pressure and in unsewered villages, manage urban runoff through nature based urban sustainable drainage, and address domestic wastewater discharges from individual houses. The RBMP also identifies priority areas for action including Blue Dot Areas, (waterbodies which have the capacity to have the highest water quality) to be progressed by the Blue Dot Programme, Prioritised Areas for Action by LAWPRO and LA Areas for protection and restoration. The Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive seeks to protect the environment from the adverse effects of urban wastewater discharges. It sets standards to be met in the collection and treatment of wastewater as well as monitoring requirements for wastewater discharges from urban areas. Effluent discharges from commercial individual wastewater treatments system (e.g. industries, hotels) to waters and to the public sewer require a licences under Section 4 and Section 16 of the Local Government (Water Pollution) Act 1977, which are issued by the local authority and are subject to specific conditions. The Council operates an ongoing programme of monitoring and compliance regarding such licences. In addition, the Planning and Development Act 2000 (Section 10(2) refers) requires mandatory objectives for the provision or facilitation of water supplies and wastewater services and the promotion of compliance with environmental standards and objectives established by the Surface water and Groundwater Regulations. The National Planning Framework identifies the sustainable management of water, waste and other environmental resources as a National Strategic Outcome and also seeks to ensure the efficient and sustainable use and development of water resources and water services infrastructure (NPO 63). The NPF also highlights the need to eliminate untreated discharges from settlements in the short term. The NWRA Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy emphasises that adequate water services

3. Page 163

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   County Donegal Development Plan 2024-2030 (As Varied) 160 Chapter 8 Infrastructure infrastructure is essential for the region’s economic prosperity, increased growth, and quality of life and acknowledges the existing deficiency in such infrastructure in the region. The RSES Regional Policy objectives further seek to ensure adequate infrastructure to meet demands for growth and economic development (RPO 8.12), support investment in water and wastewater services (RPO 8.15), ensure the protection and improvement of all waters (RPO 8.18), and promote compliance with the Water Framework Directive (RPO 8.20). The integration of sustainable water management solutions such as Water Sensitive Urban Design and Nature Based Solutions into developments (e.g. green roofs, porous pavements/green surfaces, rainwater harvesting, planted areas, rain gardens, swales, filter strips, detention basins/ponds, constructed wetlands) is increasingly recognised as a best practice solution to retain, store and treat surface water runoff with significant water quality, flood attenuation, biodiversity, public realm and quality of life benefits. Such solutions are supported by NPO 57 of the NPF and are highlighted in the DHLGH guidance document Nature Based Solutions to the Management of Rainwater and surface Water Runoff in Urban Areas. Consequently, this plan will require such solutions to be integrated into new public and private developments and within the public realm. The Draft Water Services Guidelines for Planning Authorities (DoHPLG 2018) recommend that new development plans have regard to water/wastewater infrastructure capacity, make efficient use of existing or planned infrastructure, and sequentially phase development. They also specifically recommend that new development should be focused in areas with water and wastewater networks, planning authorities should not generally consider alternative solution such as private wells and wastewater treatment plants and notes that Irish Water will not take over responsibility for developer provided treatment facilities. The guidelines also highlight potential impacts from developments arising from greater demands on, and interference with, water and wastewater infrastructure. Irish Water has published a range of strategic and regional plans with regard to water and wastewater services including: • Water Services Policy Statement 2018-2025 which sets out high level objectives and policies for waster and wastewater around quality, conservation, and future proofing. • The 2015 Uisce Éireann Strategic Plan which highlights a number of planning related objectives including a safe and reliable water supply, effective wastewater management, protecting and enhancing the environment and supporting socio-economic growth and the associated IW Strategic Funding Plan 2019-2024 which sets out the measure to implement said strategic plan. • The Uisce Éireann Capital Investment Plan 2020-2024 which detailed a range of water and wastewater projects for Donegal of which a significant number are now complete and are now at advanced projects (see above). Uisce Eireann is currently in the process of preparing a new capital investment plan. • National Water Resources Plan aims to ensure a safe, secure, sustainable, and reliable water supply over the next 25 years and will lead to the preparation of the associated North West Regional Resource Plan which will deal with leakage reduction, water conservation and sustainable supplies. • Drinking Water Safety Plans: seek to protect drinking water sources by identifying and manging risks to water quality and quantity. In addition, consultations with Irish Water have also highlighted the need to: • Focus development into areas served by existing water and wastewater networks with adequate capacity and not generally consider alternative solutions such as private wells or wastewater treatment plants, noting Uisce Eireann will not generally takeover developer provided treatment facilities. • Protect existing water and wastewater infrastructure and ensure that the location of new developments takes into account the established use or future expansion of existing WWTPs.

4. Page 164

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   County Donegal Development Plan 2024-2030 (As Varied) 161 Chapter 8 Infrastructure • Remove or avoid additional surface water discharges to combined sewers. • Utilise Sustainable Urban Drainage systems and Green/Blue infrastructure to manage stormwater and water pollution at source. Standards for Individual Wastewater Treatment Systems The EPA Code of Practice for Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems (Population Equivalent <10) 2021 set out a methodology for site assessment and selection and maintenance of such system including guidance on appropriate percolation values for different types of systems, setback distance and sizing of percolation areas. In addition, the EPA’s 1999 Treatment systems for Small Communities, Business, Leisure Centres and Hotels manual provides guidance in relation to the selection, design, installation and maintenance of such systems. As these documents represent the most relevant guidance for individual domestic, commercial and community wastewater treatment systems development proposals will be assessed with regard to same. 8.2.6 Key Planning Challenges Given the above context, the planning and legislative framework, and the need to provide adequate water and wastewater infrastructure to serve new development and to protect, enhance and restore water quality, the following planning challenges for the new plan are evident: • Ensuring new development contributes towards the achievement of the EU Water Framework Directive objectives particularly in priority areas and also protects drinking water supplies. • Aligning urban growth with the provision of adequate wastewater treatment capacity. • Providing new or enhanced wastewater treatment infrastructure in settlements with inadequate treatment capacity in collaboration with Irish Water. • Providing new wastewater treatment infrastructure in smaller unsewered towns and villages. • Rigorously assessing proposals for individual wastewater treatment systems in compliance with EPA Code of practices in areas with no or inadequate wastewater infrastructure. • Providing sustainable long-term solutions for Developer Provided Infrastructure in residential estates. • Maintaining and improving the efficiency of independent wastewater treatment systems • Sustaining and improving private group water supply schemes. Objectives WW-O-1 To maintain, improve and enhance the quality of surface and ground waters as appropriate in accordance with the requirements of: a. The EU Water Framework Directive including implementing the Programme of Measures contained with the River Basin Management Plan 2022-2027 and any subsequent plan. b. The European Communities (Surface Water) Regulations 2009. c. The European Communities (Ground Water) Regulations 2010. WW-O-2 To provide an adequate system of wastewater treatment in settlements to facilitate projected growth envisaged in the Core Strategy of the Plan and to protect public health. WW-O-3 To facilitate the provision of an adequate, reliable and clean supply of drinking water in accordance with relevant standards, including the protection of drinking

5. Page 165

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   County Donegal Development Plan 2024-2030 (As Varied) 162 Chapter 8 Infrastructure water sources, and the provision of new/upgraded water collection, treatment, and distribution infrastructure. Policies WW-P-1 Support and facilitate the provision of new, and the upgrading of existing, water and wastewater infrastructure in collaboration with Uisce Éireann and other stakeholders including projects associated with Uisce Éireann Capital Investment Plan and the Rural Water Programme. WW-P-2 Ensure that new developments: a. do not have an adverse impact on surface and ground water quality, drinking water supplies, Bathing Waters and aquatic ecology (including Water dependent qualifying interests within Natura 2000 sites); and b. do not hinder the achievement of, and are not contrary to: i. The objectives of the EU Water Framework Directive. ii. EU Habitats and Bird Directives. iii. The associated Programme of Measures in the River Basin Management Plan 2022-2027 including any associated Water Protection or Restoration Programmes. iv. Drinking Water Safety Plan. v. The Guidelines on the Protection of Fisheries During Construction Works In and Adjacent To Waters (IFI, 2016) WW-P-3 Developments connecting to the public water network shall provide confirmation from Uisce Éireann that it is feasible to provide an appropriate water supply service and network capacity to serve the development. Such developments shall ensure that an adequate water supply can be provided to serve the projected requirements of any proposed development, and that existing water services will not be negatively impacted. WW-P-4 It is a policy of the Council that all new developments shall connect to the public wastewater infrastructure, where available. Such connections shall be subject to a connection agreement with Uisce Éireann. a. Developments connecting to the public wastewater network shall provide confirmation from Uisce Éireann that the wastewater system in the area has both treatment capacity and network availability to serve the development. b. In circumstances where works to provide treatment capacity and/or network availability have commenced, developments will be considered on the merits of each case. In all instances the first principle of the planning Authority shall be to seek to facilitate development subject to the principles of orderly development and other objectives and policies of this plan. WW-P-5 In areas with no public wastewater infrastructure, or where there is inadequate public wastewater treatment capacity or networks, larger developments (including commercial, retail, tourism and community developments) where they are to be maintained in single ownership with a projected PE>10 shall provide effluent

6. Page 166

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   County Donegal Development Plan 2024-2030 (As Varied) 163 Chapter 8 Infrastructure treatment by means of an independent wastewater treatment system which comply with the EPA’s Treatment systems for Small Communities, Business, Leisure Centres and Hotels manual or any subsequent or updated relevant code of practice. Where limited public wastewater infrastructure may be available, prior to the submissions of any planning application such developments shall be required to submit a preconnection enquiry to Uisce Eireann to assess the feasibility of connecting to the public wastewater system. WW-P-6 Facilitate development in urban or rural settings for single dwellings or other developments to be maintained in single ownership with a projected PE <10 in unsewered areas proposing the provision of effluent treatment by means of an independent wastewater treatment system where such systems: a. Demonstrate compliance with the EPA’s Code of Practice for Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems (PE. ≤10) (EPA 2021) or any subsequent or updated code of practice. b. Would not result in an over concentration or over proliferation of such systems in an area which cumulatively would be detrimental to public health or water quality. c. Otherwise comply with Policy WW-P-2. WW-P-7 Support and facilitate Uisce Éireann initiatives for: a. the provision of new wastewater collection and treatment infrastructure in unsewered settlements in collaboration with all relevant stakeholders through Measure A8 of the Multi-Annual Rural Water Programme or any relevant future funding programme; and b. the provision of sustainable long-term solutions for legacy developer-provided water services Infrastructure in residential development in collaboration with all relevant stakeholders through the Multi-Annual Developer-Provided Water Services Infrastructure Resolution Programme or any relevant future funding programme. WW-P-8 Consider proposals for community-based group wastewater/sewage schemes for either the extension of existing public wastewater treatment infrastructure into unsewered areas or standalone wastewater collection and treatment infrastructure where such proposals demonstrate: a. Sustainable long-term management structures and maintenance regimes including appropriate contractual arrangements with all group participants. b. Compliance with the EPA’s Treatment systems for Small Communities, Business, Leisure Centres and Hotels manual for any associated treatment systems. c. Approval from Uisce Éireann where it is proposed to connect to public wastewater infrastructure. d. Compliance with Policy WW-P-2. WW-P-9 In areas with no public wastewater infrastructure, or where there is inadequate public wastewater treatment capacity or networks, developments proposing to provide effluent treatment by means of a connection to an existing private communal wastewater treatment system or proposals for such new treatments systems shall not be permitted.

7. Page 167

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   County Donegal Development Plan 2024-2030 (As Varied) 164 Chapter 8 Infrastructure WW-P-10 In general, development proposals shall only be permitted where it is demonstrated that: a. They would not negatively impact on existing or proposed water and wastewater infrastructure including the overbuilding of network infrastructure. b. The location takes into account, and is compatible with, the operation/use or expansion of existing or proposed new wastewater treatment plants. In this regard a setback/buffer of 100m will normally be required between existing or proposed wastewater treatment facilities with a PE >50 and any sensitive developments which have a continuous or frequent public usage (e.g. residential, retail, community, educational). c. Save in exceptional circumstances: i. all new development shall provide separate foul and surface water drainage systems and the discharge of additional surface waters to combined (foul and surface water) sewers shall not be permitted; ii. the use of Water Sensitive Urban Design/Nature Based Solutions in surface water management systems within public and private developments and within the public realm shall be required to minimise the extent of hard surfacing and paving, thereby reducing flood risk and improving water quality; d. Water conservation measures (e.g. rainwater harvesting) shall be required as an integral part of developments, save in exceptional circumstances and where appropriate to do so. WW-P-11 Applications for proposed borehole/private wells shall only be permitted where it is demonstrated that: a. It is not feasible to connect to a public water supply or group scheme. b. A potable water supply can be provided to in accordance with EU Drinking Water standards. c. The development will not have an adverse effect on water quality. WW-P-12 It is a policy of the Council to support the extension of the public sewer network serving Glencolmcille from its current western edge as far west as the area broadly defined by the Glencolmcille Folk Village. WW-P-13 Ensure that new developments do not have an adverse impact on the Lough Mourne drinking water supply. Any developments of scale in the general vicinity shall be required to identify overground and underground water sources supplying the Lough and to demonstrate that there shall be no adverse impact on these supplies.

8. Page 168

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   County Donegal Development Plan 2024-2030 (As Varied) 165 Chapter 8 Infrastructure 8.3 Telecoms High-speed telecommunications networks are key elements to the economic and social development of the County. High-speed broadband and telephony services support all economic sectors, provide universal access to public services, are crucial to the national and international exchange of goods and services, and act as a catalyst in changing economic interrelationships through rapid technological change. The rapid and continuous development of Information Communication Technologies (ICT), and the extensive growth in the use of the Internet as a critical access gateway to international trade in goods and services, social networking interaction and the emerging convergence of main stream media broadcasting and mobile communication applications, are generating an ever growing demand from business, educational, media broadcasting and residential users for higher download and upload speeds, more capacity and greater reliability and resilience. A sustainable high-speed telecommunications network is the key to the provision of high quality, accessible broadband services for all. This comprises a range of telecommunications platforms, developed in an environmentally sensitive manner. Recent years have seen considerable progress achieved through National and EU co-funded projects in addressing the broadband core network and international connectivity deficits, through the implementation of the Metropolitan Area Networks Schemes in the following towns in the County: Gweedore, Letterkenny, Bundoran, Buncrana, Ballyshannon, Ballybofey/Stranorlar, Carndonagh and Donegal Town. The rollout of the ‘Project Kelvin’ initiative established world class international connectivity focused on the Letterkenny-Derry Gateway. This technology provides direct access to a trans-Atlantic submarine fibre optic cable that extends to land based fibre optic cable networks with connectivity throughout Canada, USA, UK and mainland Europe. The completion of the project launched Donegal and the region as an attractive location to global companies, such as leading financial houses, exchange markets service providers and media companies requiring superfast, high capacity, competitively priced, resilient and low latency bandwidth. Map 8.3.1 details the route of the Kelvin line, in addition to the location of Eircom DSL exchanges, the broadband interconnector between the Republic and Northern Ireland and the Eircom broadband backbone network. Other projects such as the National Broadband Scheme and the locally delivered Community Network Services project have improved availability of first generation broadband services throughout the county. Telecommunications Companies themselves have invested substantially in both fixed and mobile telecommunications services on a commercial basis in recent years. County Donegal relative to other rural Counties has a high percentage of high-speed broadband enabled exchanges. In common with other parts of the Country however, a rural/urban divide in terms of high speed broadband is emerging which is the focus of the National Broadband Plan. 8.3.1 National Policy Perspective National policy is clearly identified in: National Strategic Outcome 6 of the National Development Plan (NDP) and subsequent narrative in the associated Chapter 11 of the NDP; and the Government’s ‘Harnessing Digital-The Digital Ireland Framework’ the purpose of which is described by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications as being ‘to drive and enable the digital transition across the Irish economy and society. The Irish Government has recognised the

9. Page 169

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   County Donegal Development Plan 2024-2030 (As Varied) 166 Chapter 8 Infrastructure importance of high-speed broadband particularly for rural areas and has developed a comprehensive intervention strategy – the National Broadband Plan. The National Broadband Plan is a Government policy initiative aimed at delivering high-speed broadband to every citizen and business in Ireland. This objective is being achieved through a combination of accelerated commercial investment by telecoms operators, and a State intervention programme to provide high-speed broadband to those parts of the country where it is not economically feasible for the commercial sector to invest. A comprehensive mapping exercise has been carried out by the Department of Communications, Climate Action, and Environment to identify premises which will be served by commercial operators and those which will not. The state intervention scheme will financially assist the provision of highspeed broadband services in the intervention area by means of a competitive process. In County Donegal approximately 48,249 premises will be served by commercial operators and 52,269 premises will be served under the National Broadband Intervention Strategy. The Council recognises mobile phone and high-speed broadband networks as essential infrastructure for modern communications, business support and also in servicing urban areas, as well as many rural areas across the County. In Donegal this infrastructure is having an increasingly important influence on the rural economy, both in agriculture, tourism and other businesses, reducing the economic and social impact of remoteness and peripherality. Visual amenity and environmental degradation can be a key issue in relation to mast and antennae proposals and both the cumulative effects and the specific impact of each individual proposal merit careful consideration. The location of telecommunication proposals is a key consideration in addressing the protection of our natural and built heritage. Co-location of antennae on existing masts and colocation of masts on existing sites is preferred as it would serve to eliminate demand to create new mast locations throughout the County; in line with the recommendations of Government Guidelines on Telecommunications Antennae and Support Structures. The location of antennae on existing structures such as electricity pylons and aerials shall be encouraged as appropriate. Visual impact assessment is a key tool in appropriate circumstances to examine the extent to which a proposed structure impacts on the host environment.

10. Page 170

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    County Donegal Development Plan 2024-2030 (As Varied) 167 Chapter 8 Infrastructure

Source Donegal County Council: County Donegal Development Plan 2024–2030 (As Varied) (2024–2030) · 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.