Manx Utilities says Garff sewage treatment works needed for local community

The authority's plan for the site is now available for public viewing

Manx Utilities says that the continued discharge of untreated sewage into the Irish Sea ‘must stop’, and to do nothing is ‘not an option’.

It’s as the authority’s application for a sewage treatment works in Garff has been validated and uploaded on to the planning portal.

Documents say the site, at Axnfell Plantation, will comprise of five 'associated' sewage pumping stations which will be at The Cairn, Ballacollister Road, Garwick Glen, Telephone Exchange and Killkellan.

It also says that 6.6km of underground pipelines will link the network together and pump the sewage to the main station and would be returned using a ‘gravity sewer’ to the sea via the existing Laxey outfall.

The main plant is due to be located along the southern edge of the plantation, adjacent to Ballacollister Road.

Picture credit: Manx Utilities

As part of the application three unused holiday chalets and a number of trees would have to be demolished to make way for the pumping stations.

However, the MUA says the public health ‘benefit’ of having a sewage treatment works outweighs the tourism need and also has plans to plant new trees on the site to mitigate the loss.

It also says that if planning approval is granted, the construction phase would begin in 2026 and could take between 18 and 24 months.

Planning documents also say a bridge over the river would be needed to support the construction works at the Cairns site.

The application adds the sewage treatment works process will comprise three covered Integrated Rotating Biological Contactors - which should provide operational treatment capacity up to 2050.

It also says the proposed site would include ‘sufficient’ space for a potential fourth covered IRBC to serve beyond 2050.

Documents also show the operational lifespan of the proposed development is between 60 and 100 years for civil structures.

Manx Utilities says that the continued discharge of the community’s untreated sewage into the Irish Sea ‘must stop’, and to do nothing is ‘not an option’.

You can view the full application here.