25th July 2012: As part of the Greater Dublin Drainage Project (GDD), to provide a new regional wastewater treatment works in north Co Dublin, with a new orbital sewer and a new marine outfall to the Irish Sea, Techworks Marine Ltd. on behalf of Fingal County Council is undertaking dye trace and drogue tracking surveys in the Irish Sea off the coast of North Dublin, to monitor the currents and directions of sea flows.  The fluorescent dye may be visible in the Irish Sea in the general vicinity of the outfall areas. The cone shaped drogues will be fitted with radar reflectors and flashing beacons to aid avoidance by other navigators and will be recovered following each track.

The research/information gathering is part of the robust studies being carried out on the three emerging preferred sites for the new regional wastewater treatment works identified in May of this year:

  • Annsbrook, Approx 10km north of Dublin airport and approximately 2.7km west of Lusk with a marine outfall in the Northern Outfall Study Area, in the vicinity of Loughshinny

  • Newtowncorduff, Approx 10km north of Dublin airport and approximately 1.0km west of Lusk, with a marine outfall in the Northern Outfall Study Area, in the vicinity of Loughshinny
  • Clonshagh/ Clonshaugh, Approx 2.2km east of Dublin Airport, with a marine outfall in the Southern Outfall Area, to the north east of Ireland’s Eye.

The dye and cone shaped drogues are being released in the northern and southern outfall study areas as identified in the attached map. These areas have been identified as potential outfall areas for the Greater Dublin Drainage project to find a marine outfall for a new regional wastewater treatment works in north Co Dublin .

The works are expected to last two weeks, subject to suitable weather conditions, While the dye and drogues will be released within the outfall study areas, they will not remain confined to these areas and are likely to be circulated further afield due to tides and currents.

Map of Dye and Drogue Survey

Anyone with any queries regarding the trace and tracking surveys can contact info@greaterdublindrainage.ie, Lo Call 1890 44 55 67 or view www.greaterdublindrainage.ie for more information on the project.

ENDS