IRIS Regional Strategy Stakeholder Meeting

Politicians and major stakeholders have been presented with an overview of progress on the IRIS Regional Sewage Treatment Strategy ahead of a consultation period to look at preferred sites for Sewage Treatment Works and associated environmental assessments.

The Isle of Man office of Hyder Consulting was appointed project director in February this year for the IRIS Regional Strategy and Belfast company Faber Maunsell has recently been appointed technical manager.

Director of Drainage Peter Winstanley explained:

“It is anticipated that, following the consultation period, preferred sites for the regional Treatment Works will be identified by February or March next year, after which environmental impact assessments will be carried out.”

The original IRIS master plan involved centralisation of the Island’s sewage treatment at the Meary Veg Sewage Treatment Plant in Santon, which, with the recent addition of the Mount Murray area, now treats sewage from 66% of the Island’s population.

However, following a review, backing was given to developing a regional treatment strategy with sewage works to be constructed in the north and west and the reconstruction of the smaller sewage works. This approach was approved by Tynwald in October 2007.

The review highlighted several areas where taking a regional approach would be advantageous, including the potential to deliver the completed IRIS project three years ahead of the previous strategy, and also providing greater flexibility for the future treatment and disposal of sludge.

A regional strategy may also save approximately £15 million in capital expenditure and £1.2 million in annual operating costs, compared with an All-Island system.

David Quirk MHK, the Department’s political Member with responsibility for Drainage, said:

“I’m delighted that the Department is moving forward with the IRIS Regional Strategy and we are looking forward to working with Local Authorities and stakeholder groups on this project.”