Public consultation on the Draft Galway Wastewater Strategy
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 Draft Strategy is published alongside the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Environmental Report and Natura Impact Statement (NIS). The public consultation runs from Thursday, 28 May to Thursday, 23 July 2026.
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.
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. Galway’s population is projected to increase by approximately 40% between 2022 and 2040. 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.
Key Recommendations
To address these challenges, the Strategy proposes the following key measures:
A new Regional Galway East Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) is progressed to meet the long-term wastewater treatment needs of the study area and to provide sufficient capacity, resilience and environmental protection up to 2080
Enhancements to treatment capacity at Mutton Island and Athenry Wastewater Treatment Plants in the short term to meet population demands. Works on these plants is planned within the 2040 investment cycle
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. 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, and
Decentralised treatment at Moycullen and Claregalway Wastewater Treatment Plants will be maintained with any future upgrades informed by population and economic growth projections
The development of the Regional Galway East WWTP will:
Enable the diversion of wastewater load from the eastern part of Galway City away from the existing Mutton Island Wastewater Treatment Plant, thereby relieving pressure on existing infrastructure, improving system resilience, and supporting future growth in a sustainable manner, and
Facilitate the decommissioning of the existing Athenry Wastewater Treatment Plant, with wastewater flows from Athenry to be pumped to the new Regional Galway East WWTP, providing a more sustainable, efficient and resilient regional wastewater solution.
These proposals aim to ensure that Galway communities are supported with wastewater infrastructure that facilitates economic and regional development, protects the environment and strengthens climate resilience.
Submissions can be made until midnight Thursday, 23 July 2026 via:
In order to assist stakeholders in making a submission as part of this consultation, Uisce Éireann invites feedback on the following questions; however, feedback is not limited to these questions:
Strategic Approach and Recommended Options
The draft Galway Wastewater Strategy identifies the development of a new Regional Galway East Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP), with two associated discharge outfall options, as the recommended strategic approach.
Do you have any comments on this recommended approach or on the assessment process used to identify these options?
Methodology and Option Assessment
Sections 5 and 10 of the draft Galway Wastewater Strategy set out the methodology used to assess current wastewater infrastructure, identify future needs, and develop and evaluate strategic wastewater options for the study area.
Do you have any comments on this methodology?
Additional Information or Considerations
Are there any additional issues, information or local knowledge that you consider should be taken into account in the development of the Galway Wastewater Strategy?
Strategy Implementation
Section 12 of the draft Galway Wastewater Strategy outlines the proposed approach to implementing the Strategy.
Do you have any comments on the proposed implementation and delivery of the Strategy?
Environmental Assessment
Do you have any comments on the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Environmental Report and the Natura Impact Statement (NIS) that accompany the draft Galway Wastewater Strategy?
Additional Comments
Do you have any further comments on the draft Galway Wastewater Strategy?
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).
Draft Galway Wastewater Strategy
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Public consultation on the Draft Galway Wastewater Strategy
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 Draft Strategy is published alongside the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Environmental Report and Natura Impact Statement (NIS). The public consultation runs from Thursday, 28 May to Thursday, 23 July 2026.
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.
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. Galway’s population is projected to increase by approximately 40% between 2022 and 2040. 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.
Key Recommendations
To address these challenges, the Strategy proposes the following key measures:
A new Regional Galway East Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) is progressed to meet the long-term wastewater treatment needs of the study area and to provide sufficient capacity, resilience and environmental protection up to 2080
Enhancements to treatment capacity at Mutton Island and Athenry Wastewater Treatment Plants in the short term to meet population demands. Works on these plants is planned within the 2040 investment cycle
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. 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, and
Decentralised treatment at Moycullen and Claregalway Wastewater Treatment Plants will be maintained with any future upgrades informed by population and economic growth projections
The development of the Regional Galway East WWTP will:
Enable the diversion of wastewater load from the eastern part of Galway City away from the existing Mutton Island Wastewater Treatment Plant, thereby relieving pressure on existing infrastructure, improving system resilience, and supporting future growth in a sustainable manner, and
Facilitate the decommissioning of the existing Athenry Wastewater Treatment Plant, with wastewater flows from Athenry to be pumped to the new Regional Galway East WWTP, providing a more sustainable, efficient and resilient regional wastewater solution.
These proposals aim to ensure that Galway communities are supported with wastewater infrastructure that facilitates economic and regional development, protects the environment and strengthens climate resilience.
Submissions can be made until midnight Thursday, 23 July 2026 via:
• Online: consult.water.ie
• Email: gws@water.ie
• Post: Uisce Éireann, Galway Wastewater Strategy, 1 Galway Business Park, Upper Newcastle Road, Dangan, Galway H91 A3EF
In order to assist stakeholders in making a submission as part of this consultation, Uisce Éireann invites feedback on the following questions; however, feedback is not limited to these questions:
The draft Galway Wastewater Strategy identifies the development of a new Regional Galway East Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP), with two associated discharge outfall options, as the recommended strategic approach.
Do you have any comments on this recommended approach or on the assessment process used to identify these options?
Sections 5 and 10 of the draft Galway Wastewater Strategy set out the methodology used to assess current wastewater infrastructure, identify future needs, and develop and evaluate strategic wastewater options for the study area.
Do you have any comments on this methodology?
Are there any additional issues, information or local knowledge that you consider should be taken into account in the development of the Galway Wastewater Strategy?
Section 12 of the draft Galway Wastewater Strategy outlines the proposed approach to implementing the Strategy.
Do you have any comments on the proposed implementation and delivery of the Strategy?
Do you have any comments on the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Environmental Report and the Natura Impact Statement (NIS) that accompany the draft Galway Wastewater Strategy?
Do you have any further comments on the draft Galway Wastewater Strategy?
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).
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