Sewage strategy plans discussed

A change in the way the Isle of Man treats its sewage is to be considered by Tywnald later this month.

Under the orginal IRIS water treatment project, it was intended all the island's sewage would be pumped to the Meary Veg plant in Santon.

The Department of Transport has suggested that savings could be made by having several, smaller plants to serve the west, north and east of the island.

These would be in areas not already connected to the Santon plant.

Minister for transport David Anderson MHK said: "The regional approach will allow us to deliver a completed IRIS project three years ahead of the previous strategy.

"There will also be substantial savings with the regional strategy, about £15m in capital expenditure, and £1.2m in annual operating costs."

The department has already acquired some areas of land and opened negotiations with landowners in other areas where the purchase of sites for sewage treatment would be necessary, should Tynwald endorse the plans.