Infrastructure

2.2      Infrastructure

2.2.1       Water supply

Fiddown is served by the combined Mooncoin and Piltown-Fiddown water supply scheme.  At present, water supply volumes serving Piltown-Fiddown are inadequate to cater for further development. Kilkenny County Council is currently in the process of upgrading and augmenting the existing Mooncoin Regional Water Supply Scheme which will have a positive impact on the Piltown/Fiddown water supply scheme.  The upgrade of the Mooncoin Regional Water Supply scheme is set to take place over 3 phases of works.  Currently works are being undertaken for phase 1.  The works as part of phase 1 will relieve pressure on parts of the existing water supply scheme serving Fiddown-Piltown and allow for small amounts of further development, and is due to be complete in the third quarter of 2010.  Further upgrading of the water supply will be dependent on phases 2-3 of the Mooncoin Regional Water Supply scheme, a date has not been finalised as yet for these works to commence.

The Piltown- Fiddown water supply scheme has been included for allocation of funding in the Water Services Investment Program for phases 1 & 2 of the upgrading works; these works are necessary to accommodate the natural increase and growth of the village as proposed in this plan.

Water Quality Analyses over the years show that water quality in the area is good. Water quality is monitored on a daily basis by the Council’s staff, in accordance with the HSE requirements to ensure that water quality remains high.  The lime content of the water is suitable for consumption, and whilst it solidifies when heated, cannot be readily removed from the water supply.

A Water Conservation Project is underway across the county at present.  The first stage of this project divided the water supply schemes into different zones and installed meters.  The second stage is active leakage control, which includes detecting and repairing leaks.

Policy:

• IN1 – To conserve valuable water supplies by eliminating leakages and through raising public awareness of the need for water conservation.
• IN2 – To preserve free from development the way leaves of all public water mains.

Objective:

IN3 – To provide water in sufficient quantity and quality to serve the needs of the existing and future population and commercial development, for all lands zoned for development in this plan, as resources and finances permit.

1.1.2       Waste Water Treatment

Fiddown is served by a sewerage scheme with primary treatment, which was constructed in 1986.  The plant is currently operating at twice its population equivalent capacity and therefore does not have capacity or the necessary treatment to cater for future demand.

The Water Services Investment programme includes for funding for interim measures for upgrading of the wastewater treatment system for quality purposes to secondary treatment level, but this will not increase population capacity.

Policy:

• IN4 – Significant additional development shall not be permitted to the wastewater treatment until such time as the scheme is upgraded to adequate capacity and treatment levels.
• IN5 – To preserve free from development the way leaves of all public sewers.

Objective:

IN6 – To maintain and improve wastewater treatment services and to upgrade the treatment system to full secondary treatment as resources and finance permit.

2.2.3     Surface Water Drainage & Flood Risk Management

In line with The Planning System and Flood Risk Management Guidelines for Planning Authorities (2009) a Strategic Environmental Assessment Screening has been carried out for this plan.  The Office of Public Works (OPW) has identified the levels of existing flood risk in and around the River Suir and its tributaries.  In co-operation with various Local Authorities within its catchment area, the OPW are conducting a ‘Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Study’ of the entire catchment area, including lands at Fiddown.  According to the existing OPW National Flood Hazard Mapping, there are no recorded flood events within the development boundary of Fiddown.  The plan therefore accords with the guidelines’ sequential approach in avoiding developing lands that may be vulnerable to flooding.

There is no existing system specifically designed for stormwater disposal in Fiddown. Individual developments facilitated under the guidance of this plan shall be obliged, in all cases where surface water drainage measures are required, to provide a surface water drainage system separated from the foul drainage system. In this regard Kilkenny County Council will consider all stormwater drainage proposals consistent with SuDS (Sustainable Drainage Systems).

In the design of surface water systems, regard shall be had to the Kilkenny County Development Plan 2008 – 2014 and the Greater Dublin Regional Code of Practice for Drainage Works and associated GDSDS technical documents.

New development should adopt water saving measures throughout; such measures could include – water butts to collect rainwater, low flush and dual flush toilets, low water use appliances, rainwater harvesting and grey-water recycling.

Policy:

IN7 – To seek separate stormwater systems for all developments, and to consider all proposals consistent with SuDS (Sustainable Drainage Systems).

2.2.4     Waste Management

The Joint Waste Management Plan for the South East sets out the policy for Kilkenny and the south east region for the plan period 2006-2011.

Waste collection was privatised by the Council in the 1990’s and both recyclables and residual waste is now collected in Fiddown by private contractors once weekly.  There is a bottle bank in Piltown at present, where glass bottles and drinks cans can be recycled, which also serves Fiddown.  One day per week a service is provided in Newrath for the recycling of cardboard, plastic and papers for householders in areas without a waste collection service.

The South East Regional Waste Management Plan has an objective to provide a recycling centre for the south of the county.  A site has been identified in Granny, however this is dependent on adequate available funding.  This will be a one-stop-shop centre for all recyclables including paper, cardboard, plastic, steel food cans etc.

The Council’s Environmental Awareness Officer provides regular dissemination of information through group meetings, leaflets and other promotional materials, and any community can access these services.  These services will continue to improve the level of environmental awareness throughout the county and encourage recycling and promotion of more sustainable practices.

Policy:

IN8 – To continue to work with, and encourage the prevention, minimisation, re-use, recycling and safe disposal of waste in line with the South East Regional Waste Management Plan.

2.2.5       Telecommunications

Telecommunications have become centrally important to the prospects of any local economy. Broadband is available in the Piltown area through mobile, satellite and Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) providers.

Policy:

IN9 – To support and encourage the provision of the necessary telecommunications for the existing and future development of Fiddown.

IN10 – To ensure development proposals include the provision of ducting for fibre based data services and in particular broadband services, as appropriate.