Enhanced treatment at the Mutton Island plant in inner Galway Bay is one of several proposals in Uisce Éireann's draft new wastewater strategy for the region. However, the controversial plant will handle reduced capacity in the long term when a new wastewater plant in the east of the city is developed
The Mutton Island sewage treatment plant was the focus of a bitter environmental row in the 1990s. Galway City Council had selected it as the site for its proposed sewage treatment plant for the city, and ignored pleas in favour of a more discreet location at the former isolation hospital on the edge of Lough Atalia in the city's docks area.
In October, 1995, the European Commissioner for Regional Policy, Ms Monika Wulf-Mathies, accepted the view that it would have a major negative environmental impact and withdrew approval for EU funding for the project, which would have covered 85 per cent of the cost. The then minister for the environment, Mr Brendan Howlin, decided to proceed with the Mutton Island site regardless, at an estimated cost to the State back then of £23 million.
Uisce Éireann says that a public consultation on the draft strategy for Galway runs until July 23rd. The strategy has been published alongside the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Environmental Report and Natura Impact Statement (NIS).
The publication of the draft strategy is “an important milestone in ensuring that Galway’s wastewater treatment and network infrastructure can support growth sustainably, protect the environment and strengthen climate resilience through 2040, 2055 and 2080”, Uisce Éireann says.
“The National Planning Framework 2040 identifies Galway as one of Ireland’s fastest-growing urban areas over the past 50 years and a key driver of development in the west of Ireland,” it says. “Galway’s population is projected to increase by approximately 40% between 2022 and 2040,” it says.
“This level of growth places increasing pressure on existing wastewater infrastructure to meet the demand for new serviced land to support housing, commercial development, and industry,” it says.
There are currently four wastewater treatment plants within the study area: Mutton Island (Galway city), Athenry, Baile Chláir (Claregalway), and Moycullen.
The strategy makes key recommendations, including a new regional Galway East wastewater treatment plant to provide sufficient capacity and environmental protection up to 2080. It also proposes short-term enhancements to treatment capacity at the Mutton Island and Athenry wastewater treatment plants to meet population demands.
Work on these plants is planned within the 2040 investment cycle, it says.
“Once the new regional Galway East plant is commissioned, there will be a gradual transfer of loads from Mutton Island and Athenry to reduce loading pressures on the existing plants and manage long-term regulatory risk,” it says. “Mutton Island plant will continue to operate at a reduced capacity, and Athenry plant will become a pumping station to transfer load to the new regional Galway East plant,” it says.
“Decentralised treatment at Moycullen and Baile Chláir (Claregalway) wastewater treatment plants will be maintained with any future upgrades informed by population and economic growth projections,” it says.
It says that, over time, wastewater from strategic areas around the city would be diverted from Mutton Island to the new regional plant.
“Mutton Island would continue to accept and treat wastewater from a smaller area into the future,” it says. “Athenry wastewater treatment plant would transition to operate as a wastewater pumping station, with all flows transferring to the new plant,” it says.
Uisce Éireann is inviting members of the public, community groups, businesses, elected representatives and stakeholders to provide feedback on the draft strategy and associated environmental reports.
The consultation documents can be viewed and downloaded at the website www.water.ie/GWS
Submissions can be made until midnight Thursday, July 23rd, 2026, via:
• Online: consult.water.ie
• Email: [email protected]
• Post: Uisce Éireann, Galway Wastewater Strategy, 1 Galway Business Park, Upper Newcastle Road, Dangan, Galway H91 A3EF
To support the consultation, Uisce Éireann will also host a webinar during the consultation period. Details and registration information will be available on the website.
“All feedback received will be reviewed and considered as Uisce Éireann finalises the Galway Wastewater Strategy, to be published later in 2026 alongside the SEA Statement and Appropriate Assessment (AA),” it says.
