A SEWAGE DISPOSAL STRATEGY FOR THE ISLE-OF-MAN

The Isle of Man sits in the middle of the Irish Sea, surrounded by the United Kingdom (UK) coasts of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern I reland. It is, however, independently governed by its own Parliament, Tynwald, and is not part of the European Union (formerly the European Community, EC). A radical scheme for the integrated sewerage provision of the whole of the Island, of population approximately 65,000, invol ving centralised treatment and re-use of sewage sludges, has been acce pted in principle. The policy adopted, as realised in the so-called 'I RIS' scheme, goes beyond the level of provision called for by the rece nt EC Directive on Urban Wastewater Treatment, yet the threat posed by the Isle of Man to the waters of the Irish Sea is negligible in compa rison to the major inputs from its more populous neighbours. The geogr aphic separation of the Island from the major pollution inputs from th e British and Irish mainlands should ensure unobstructed assimilation of its releases by the marine environment. In many instances the coast al communities of the island, through their small size, would be witho ut the statutory responsibility for land based treatment provision, ev en if bound by the EC legislation. This article, based on evidence pre sented to Public Inquiry on a first phase of the scheme's implementati on, expresses the view that the strategy for future sewerage provision should be re- evaluated in the light of the flexibilities in implemen tation which would be afforded to the Isle of Man under the EC legisla tion. More fundamentally, however, it is suggested that the 'marine tr eatment' option using long- sea outfalls should be incorporated in the range of scheme options to be evaluated against achievement of a 'bes t environmental solution'. The argument developed herein draws extensi vely on the background leading to the UK Water Industry's reluctant ad option of the EC legislation. These circumstances are considered worth y of report in their own right and the Isle of Man provides an ideal c ase study. Copyright (C) 1996 IAWQ.