Uisce Éireann’s failure to provide adequate information on a proposed wastewater storage tank could scupper much-needed housing on the east side of the city.

That’s according to An Taisce who have lodged an appeal against the City Council’s grant of planning permission to An Bord Pleanála.

An Taisce Galway Planning Committee Chairperson, Peter Butler, said they were in favour of the wastewater tank in principle, but Uisce Éireann (formerly Irish Water) had failed to provide any evidence that what they proposed would work as expected.

“We are appealing the permission to An Bord Pleanála asking the same questions we asked of the Council’s planners before they granted permission,” said Mr Butler.

“What will the tank do – will it end the discharge of foul water into Galway Bay – yes or no?”

He there was no commitment in the planning application that pollution of the Bay would be addressed by the 949 cubic metre underground storage tank, proposed to add capacity to the Merlin Park pumping station.

This pollution is the cause of regular instances of poor water quality at Grattan Beach and Ballyloughane.

The necessity for this and other storage tanks in the city was not in doubt, continued Mr Butler, adding that major developments at Ardaun and Gurraun between the city and Oranmore required a serious upgrade of the wastewater network.

“We know there are currently discharges into the Bay at Oranmore, Ballyloughane, the Claddagh and in Barna – and they’re all linked to the pumping infrastructure which pumps out to Mutton Island.

Pictured: An Taisce Galway Planning Committee Chairperson, Peter Butler …in favour of the wastewater tank in principle