Westmeath County Development Plan 2021–2027

1. Page 331

   Cite this pagePDF p. 331 (opens the publisher’s copy in a new tab)
   TRANSPORT, INFRASTRUCTURE AND ENERGY 10 Westmeath County Development Plan 2021-2027 318 10.12 Water Quality and Groundwater The EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) sets out the protection and enhancement of the country’s water resources. The River Basin Management Plan 2018-2021 was published in April 2018 and outlines the measures required to improve water quality and achieve ‘good’ ecological status in water bodies (rivers, lakes, groundwaters) by 2027. The plan encompasses a new approach to catchment management and includes selected waterbodies for action. Westmeath County Council samples the Lakes and Rivers under the National Monitoring Programme. For the purposes of the WFD, most of Westmeath is located within the Shannon River Basin District Region, but a portion to the east of the County, part of the Boyne Catchment, is within the Eastern River Basin District Area. The Council supports the development of Drinking Water Protection Plans in line with the requirements of the Water Framework Directive and the current and future cycles of River Basin Management Plans. In this regard, the Council supports mitigation and protection measures for all protected areas, including Drinking Water Protected Areas and associated Source Protection Plans. Development management can play a significant role in the prevention of further deterioration of water status and in the protection of existing high and good quality waters. Water protection measures are best incorporated into site selection and site design plans. Therefore, developers should adequately assess environmental risks, take account of site limitations and prepare a water protection plan. Site selection should take account of sensitive areas and sensitive water bodies. Water protection plans should aim to prevent contamination of storm water, minimise soiled and waste waters, install proper containment for material storage, install appropriate treatment and disposal arrangement for soiled and waste waters and take account of legal requirements for discharges to ground and surface waters. 10.12.1 Ground Water Ground waters are of importance as a water source for private wells, group schemes and local authority supplies and for use in a range of commercial activities. Groundwater directly and indirectly contributes to and sustains a variety of important ecosystems, the most important of which in Westmeath include turloughs and fens, in particular rich fens and flushes and marl lakes. If groundwater becomes contaminated, surface water quality can also be affected and so the protection of groundwater resources is an important aspect of sustaining surface water quality. Over 60% of the public drinking water supply in Westmeath is sourced from Lough Owel and Lough Lene (surface water bodies). These lakes are fed by springs (groundwater), with many private homes in the County also relying on individual wells for drinking water supply, so the protection of groundwater in Westmeath is of considerable importance. The Council ensures that groundwater is protected by ensuring compliance with the following: • The appropriate control of development in areas of high groundwater vulnerability • Implementation of the Programme of Measures as required in the River Basin Management Plans (Eastern and Shannon).

2. Page 332

   Cite this pagePDF p. 332 (opens the publisher’s copy in a new tab)
   TRANSPORT, INFRASTRUCTURE AND ENERGY 10 Westmeath County Development Plan 2021-2027 319 • Licensing of discharges of effluent to groundwater, having particular regard to the requirements of the EC Environmental Objectives (Groundwater) Regulations, 2010 (S.I. No. 9 of 2010). • Implementation of the European Union (Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters) Regulations 2017 (S.I. No. 605 of 2017) as amended which give effect to several EU Directives including in relation to protection of waters against pollution from agricultural sources ("the Nitrates Directive"), dangerous substances in water, and protection of groundwater. • It is essential that ground water resources and abstraction points are recognised, and such sources and their zones of contribution are protected and safeguarded in the interest of the common good and public health. 10.12.2 Private Wells The use of private wells to provide water to single houses remains the responsibility of the householder. Private wells are not regulated under the European Communities (Drinking Water) Regulations 2014 and Irish Water has no role in relation to private water supplies. The Local Authority is responsible for providing advice and guidance in relation to the protection of the supply. Water Quality and Groundwater Policy Objectives It is a policy objective of Westmeath County Council to: CPO 10.83 Support the implementation of the relevant recommendations and measures as outlined in the relevant River Basin Management Plan 2018-2021, and associated Programme of Measures, or any such plan that may supersede same during the lifetime of the plan. Development proposals shall not have an unacceptable impact on the water environment, including surface waters, groundwater quality and quantity, river corridors and associated woodlands. CPO 10.84 Collaborate with Irish Water in contributing towards compliance with the European Union (Drinking Water) Regulations Drinking Water Regulations 2014 (as amended) and compliance of water supplies with the parameters identified in these Regulations. CPO 10.85 Contribute towards, as appropriate, the protection of existing and potential water resources, and their use by humans and wildlife, including rivers, streams, wetlands, groundwater and associated habitats and species in accordance with the requirements and guidance in the EU Water Framework Directive 2000 (2000/60/EC), the European Union (Water Policy) Regulations 2003 (as amended), the European Communities Environmental Objectives (Surface Waters) Regulations 2009 (as amended), the Groundwater Directive 2006/118/EC and the European Communities Environmental Objectives (groundwater) Regulations 2010 (as

3. Page 333

   Cite this pagePDF p. 333 (opens the publisher’s copy in a new tab)
   TRANSPORT, INFRASTRUCTURE AND ENERGY 10 Westmeath County Development Plan 2021-2027 320 amended) and other relevant EU Directives, including associated national legislation and policy guidance (including any superseding versions of same). CPO 10.86 In conjunction with Irish Water, have regard to the EPA 2019 publication “Drinking Water Report for Public Water Supplies 2018” (and any subsequent update) in the establishment and maintenance of water sources in the County. CPO 10.87 In conjunction with Irish Water, support recommendations made by the EPA arising from any failure to meet drinking water standards and any enlistment on the EPA’s Remedial Action List. CPO 10.88 Ensure that in assessing applications for developments, that consideration is had to the impact on the quality of surface waters having regard to targets and measures set out in the River Basin Management Plan for Ireland 2018-2021 and any subsequent local or regional plans. CPO 10.89 Ensure that development would not have an unacceptable impact on water quality and quantity including surface water, ground water, designated source protection areas, river corridors and associated wetlands. CPO 10.90 Discourage the over-concentration of individual septic tanks and treatment plants to minimise the risk of groundwater pollution. CPO 10.91 Support the preparation and development of Water Safety Plans / Drinking Water Protection Plans and Source Protection Plans to protect sources of public water supply, in accordance with the requirements of the Water Framework Directive. CPO 10.92 New development proposals shall ensure that full consideration is given to the level of investment that will be required in the provision of water services, particularly in environmentally sensitive areas to ensure that the provision of water services does not negatively impact on habitat quality, species diversity or other environmental considerations.

4. Page 334

   Cite this pagePDF p. 334 (opens the publisher’s copy in a new tab)
   TRANSPORT, INFRASTRUCTURE AND ENERGY 10 Westmeath County Development Plan 2021-2027 321 10.13 Foul Drainage and Wastewater Treatment Since 2014 Irish Water is responsible for the waste water infrastructure and treatment facilities where public waste water facilities exist in towns and villages. It is the policy of the Council to work in conjunction with Irish Water to protect existing wastewater infrastructure, to maximise the potential of existing capacity and to facilitate the timely delivery of new wastewater services infrastructure to facilitate future growth. The Council acknowledges that the provision of well-maintained quality waste water treatment infrastructure is essential to facilitate sustainable development of the County in line with the Core Strategy while also protecting the environment and public health and the requirements of the River Basin Management Plan. The Council operate and maintain 23 waste water treatment plants on behalf of Irish Water, with the foul sewer network collecting effluent from approximately 14,800 premises in the County. Monitoring of the treated effluent from the plants is carried out as required in accordance with the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive and conditions of the Discharge Licences and Certificates of Authorisation issued by the Environmental Protection Agency. 10.13.1 Wastewater Treatment and Disposal Systems Serving Single Houses In unserviced areas and outside the main towns and villages, the main method of sewage disposal is by means of individual septic tanks and proprietary systems. In order to protect human health and water quality from the risks posed by domestic waste water treatment systems the EPA’s National Inspection Plan for Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems 2018-2021 now requires each local authority to develop a local site selection plan, which documents the application of the site selection methodology and outlines the justification for the selection of priority areas and individual sites. The Local Authority should retain the associated documents to facilitate future auditing by the EPA. 10.13.2 EPA Code of Practice 2009 The purpose of this Code of Practice is to provide guidance on the provision of wastewater treatment and disposal systems for single houses with a population equivalent (p.e.) of less than or equal to 10 and contains the following: • An assessment methodology to determine site suitability for on-site wastewater treatment systems and to identify minimum environmental protection requirements. • A methodology to select suitable wastewater treatment systems for sites in un-sewered rural areas.

5. Page 335

   Cite this pagePDF p. 335 (opens the publisher’s copy in a new tab)
   TRANSPORT, INFRASTRUCTURE AND ENERGY 10 Westmeath County Development Plan 2021-2027 322 • Information on the design and installation of septic tank systems, filter systems and packaged treatment systems. • Information on tertiary treatment systems. • Maintenance requirements. It shall be a policy of the Council to require that individual septic tank drainage systems be provided in accordance with the standards set out in this Code of Practice. The control of development in areas of high groundwater vulnerability is a priority for the Council. Where existing clusters of septic tanks in vulnerable areas are augmented with additional septic tanks, the risk of pollution increases significantly and therefore the protection of these areas is paramount. Wastewater Policy Objectives It is a policy objective of Westmeath County Council to: CPO 10.93 Collaborate with Irish Water in contributing towards compliance with the relevant provisions of the Urban Waste Water Treatment Regulations 2001 and 2004 and the Waste Water Discharge (Authorisation) Regulations 2007, as amended. CPO 10.94 Ensure that development will only be permitted in instances where there is sufficient capacity for appropriate collection, treatment and disposal (in compliance with the Water Framework Directive and River Basin Management Plan) of waste water. CPO 10.95 Liaise with and work in conjunction with Irish Water during the lifetime of the plan for the provision, extension and upgrading of waste water collection and treatment systems in all towns and villages of the County to serve existing populations and facilitate sustainable development of the County, in accordance with the requirements of the Settlement Strategy and associated Core Strategy. CPO 10.96 Support strategic wastewater treatment infrastructure investment and provide for the separation of foul and surface water networks to accommodate future growth in the County. CPO 10.97 Resist the discharge of additional surface water to combined sewers and promote Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SuDs) and solutions to maximise the capacity of towns with combined drainage systems. CPO 10.98 Promote the changeover from septic tanks to collection networks in all cases where this is feasible (subject to connection agreements with Irish Water) and that all new developments utilise and connect to the public wastewater infrastructure.

6. Page 336

   Cite this pagePDF p. 336 (opens the publisher’s copy in a new tab)
   TRANSPORT, INFRASTRUCTURE AND ENERGY 10 Westmeath County Development Plan 2021-2027 323 CPO 10.99 Protect against development proposals, involving individual treatment systems, which would increase effluent loading within existing housing clusters located within areas of high groundwater vulnerability. CPO 10.100 Ensure that private wastewater treatment plants, where permitted, are operated in compliance with EPA’s Code of Practice Wastewater Treatment and Disposal Systems Serving Single Houses (PE. ≤10) (EPA 2009), as may be amended. CPO 10.101 Support the implementation of the Athlone Main Drainage Project subject to appropriate environmental assessment. CPO 10.102 Support appropriate options for the extraction of energy and other resources from sewerage sludge in the County. CPO 10.103 Support the servicing of rural villages (serviced sites) to provide an alternative to oneoff housing in the countryside, in line with RPO 4.78 of the Eastern and Midland Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy.

7. Page 337

   Cite this pagePDF p. 337 (opens the publisher’s copy in a new tab)
   TRANSPORT, INFRASTRUCTURE AND ENERGY 10 Westmeath County Development Plan 2021-2027 324 10.14 Flood Risk A Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA) has been prepared to inform this Plan (contained in Volume 7). The following sections outline the recommended text and policy detail contained therein. Flooding and climate change are challenging issues that require a direct response by Westmeath County Council. With a substantial length of rivers, arterial drainage networks and streams there are already significant impacts on the existing environment. The additional impacts placed on our environment from the impacts of climate change will be significant. Flood risk is generally accepted to be a combination of the likelihood (or probability) of flooding and the potential consequences arising. Flood risk can be expressed in terms of the following relationship: Flood Risk = Probability of Flooding x Consequences of Flooding The assessment of flood risk requires an understanding of the sources, the flow path of floodwater and the people and property that can be affected. The source - pathway - receptor model, shown in the figure below which illustrates this and is a widely used environmental model to assess and inform the management of risk. Figure 10.1 The source - pathway - receptor model. Principal sources of flooding are rainfall or higher than normal sea levels while the most common pathways are rivers, drains, sewers, overland flow and their defence assets. Receptors can include people, their property and the environment. All three elements must be present for flood risk to arise. Mitigation measures, such as defences or flood resilient construction, have little or no effect on sources of flooding but they can block or impede pathways or remove receptors. The planning process is primarily concerned with the location of receptors, taking appropriate account of potential sources and pathways that might put those receptors at risk. Source Pathway Receptor Model

8. Page 338

   Cite this pagePDF p. 338 (opens the publisher’s copy in a new tab)
   TRANSPORT, INFRASTRUCTURE AND ENERGY 10 Westmeath County Development Plan 2021-2027 325 10.15 Flooding Policy Context The Planning System and Flood Risk Management Guidelines (DoEHLG/OPW 2009, referred to as the Planning Guidelines) and PL2/2014 describe good flood risk practice in planning and development management. Planning authorities are directed to have regard to the Planning Guidelines in the preparation of Development Plans and Local Area Plans, and for development management purposes. The Planning Guidelines recommend a sequential approach to spatial planning, promoting avoidance rather than justification and subsequent mitigation of risk. The implementation of the Planning Guidelines on a settlement basis is achieved through the application of the objectives contained within the County Development Plan and this should be applied throughout all the lower tier plans within the County as and when they are updated or varied. The OPW is the lead agency for flood risk management in Ireland and is the national competent authority for the EU ‘Flood’ Directive. The Council works in close cooperation with the OPW in delivering both the Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme for the watercourses of Westmeath and the Athlone Flood Relief Scheme. The National CFRAM programme commenced in 2011 and is the principal response to EU ‘Flood’ Directive (2007/60/EC) on the assessment and management of flood risk. It was transcribed into Irish law under SI No.122 of 2010. Detailed flood maps were published in 2014-15 and the final Management Plans were published in 2018. Within County Westmeath, the CFRAM targeted areas of significant flooding which included the settlements of Athlone, Mullingar and Kilbeggan. The CFRAM Management Plans will set out the long-term strategies and measures required to manage risk in these areas. Both the mapping and the proposed flood management strategy will be incorporated under the Strategic Flood Risk Assessment that informs the County Development Plan. 10.15.1 Flood Source and Climate Change The management of flood risk is defined by the objectives set out within the following section, these policies focus on the key sources of flooding which are defined as; • Fluvial or riverine flooding arising from rivers and streams; • Pluvial flooding in low spots following heavy rainfall; • Drainage flooding due to the failure or inadequacies of the drainage system. Climate change is a key consideration under the CFRAM, all flood relief schemes and the Planning Guidelines. The SFRA defines the approach to the assessment of climate change impacts.

9. Page 339

   Cite this pagePDF p. 339 (opens the publisher’s copy in a new tab)
   TRANSPORT, INFRASTRUCTURE AND ENERGY 10 Westmeath County Development Plan 2021-2027 326 Flood Risk Policy Objectives It is a policy objective of Westmeath County Council to: CPO 10.104 Implement and comply fully with the recommendations of the Strategic Flood Risk Assessment prepared as part of the Westmeath County Development Plan 2021- 2027. CPO 10.105 Have regard to the “Guidelines for Planning Authorities on the Planning System and Flood Risk Management” (DoEHLG/OPW 2009) and Circular PL2/2014, through the use of the sequential approach and application of the Justification Tests in Development Management. CPO 10.106 Ensure that a flood risk assessment is carried out for any development proposal within 200m of a watercourse and at risk of flooding, in accordance with the “Guidelines for Planning Authorities on the Planning System and Flood Risk Management” (DoEHLG/OPW 2009). This assessment shall be appropriate to the scale and nature of risk to the potential development. CPO 10.107 Support the implementation of recommendations in the CFRAM Programme to ensure that flood risk management policies and infrastructure are progressively implemented. CPO 10.108 Support the implementation of recommendations in the Flood Risk Management Plans (FRMP’s), including planned investment measures for managing and reducing flood risk. CPO 10.109 Consult with the OPW in relation to proposed developments in the vicinity of drainage channels and rivers for which the OPW are responsible, and to retain a strip on either side of such channels where required, to facilitate maintenance access thereto. CPO 10.110 Assist the OPW in developing catchment-based Flood Risk Management Plans for rivers in County Westmeath and have regard to their provisions/recommendations. CPO 10.111 Protect and enhance the County’s floodplains and wetlands as ‘green infrastructure’ which provides space for storage and conveyance of floodwater, enabling flood risk to be more effectively managed and reducing the need to provide flood defenses in the future, subject to normal planning and environmental criteria. CPO 10.112 Protect the integrity of any formal (OPW or Westmeath County Council) flood risk management infrastructure, thereby ensuring that any new development does not

10. Page 340

    Cite this pagePDF p. 340 (opens the publisher’s copy in a new tab)
    TRANSPORT, INFRASTRUCTURE AND ENERGY 10 Westmeath County Development Plan 2021-2027 327 negatively impact any existing defense infrastructure or compromise any proposed new infrastructure. CPO 10.113 Ensure that where flood risk management works take place that the natural and cultural heritage, rivers, streams and watercourses are protected and enhanced. CPO 10.114 Ensure each flood risk management activity is examined to determine actions required to embed and provide for effective climate change adaptation as set out in the OPW Climate Change Sectoral Adaptation Plan Flood Risk Management applicable at the time. CPO 10.115 Consult, where necessary, with Inland Fisheries Ireland, the National Parks and Wildlife Service and other relevant agencies in the provision of flood alleviation measures in the County.

Source Westmeath County Council: Westmeath County Development Plan 2021–2027 (2021–2027) · 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.