WICKLOW COUNTY COUNCIL

ARKLOW SEWERAGE SCHEME

OUTLINE METHOD STATEMENT FOR SEA OUTFALL CONSTRUCTION
DECEMBER 2012

Arklow Sewerage Scheme

Outline Method Statement for Sea Outfall Construction

1.0 INTRODUCTION

This outline method statement is prepared on behalf of Wicklow County Council in response to
queries from the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government (DECLG)
regarding a foreshore application for the proposed marine sea outfall at Seabank as part of the Arklow
Sewerage Scheme.

This method statement shall not be interpreted as a detailed construction method statement for these
works as this will be dependent on the exact methods of construction by the DBO Contractor.

1.1

Arklow Sewerage Scheme

Currently, the existing sewerage system within the town discharges raw sewage to the River Avoca
via a number of different outlets. The new scheme is required to meet all national and EU
environmental legislation.

The design philosophy for the scheme is outlined as follows; All foul/combined discharges are to be
collected by proposed interceptor sewers constructed along both banks of the Avoca River with flows
conveyed to the proposed North Quay Pumping Station and pumped onwards for treatment to the
proposed WWTW at Seabank located approx. 2.5km to the north east of the town. Flows from the
south of the river are to be conveyed via a proposed siphon under the river bed to the North Quay.

The proposed WWTW includes the construction of a marine sea outfall with a diffuser system at the
end. The sea outfall forms an integral part of the works and is designed to cater for the future
expansion of the WWTW up to a PE of 36,000.

The proposed location of the Sea Outfall is shown in Figure 1.1 below.

20121213 Method Statement for Sea Outfall Construction

December 2012

Arklow Sewerage Scheme

Outline Method Statement for Sea Outfall Construction

Figure 1.1 Proposed Sea Outfall Location

20121213 Method Statement for Sea Outfall Construction

December 2012

Arklow Sewerage Scheme

Outline Method Statement for Sea Outfall Construction

2.0 ACCESS TO PROPOSED WORKS

The EIS for the proposed WWTW requires a no-dig section of the sea outfall from the WWTW under
the existing sand dunes. The no-dig technique shall be used to put the landward end of the outfall
pipe into position so that the surface of the dunes will not be disturbed. This will involve sinking a 17m deep shaft at the WWTW site and drilling out to a temporary reception pit at the exit point on the
state foreshore.

In considering tenders submitted for the design of the Works, no construction

techniques that involve excavation through the dunes will be acceptable. This temporary reception
shaft will be removed upon completionand the foreshore will be fully reinstated to the original
condition post construction. Suitable no-dig techniques include tunnelling (conventional tunnelling,
micro-tunnelling, pipe-jacking) and drilling. This will be decided by the DBO Contractor.

It is estimated that the temporary reception shaft will cover an area approximately 5m x 5m. Options
available to the contractor will be sheet piled cofferdam construction or precast concrete caisson type
construction. Under the EIS no vehicular access to the privately owned sand dune and beach area is
permitted. Construction plant and materials will be brought to site using marine transport.

Material will be excavated, stockpiled and backfilled by marine access only. Upon completion of
construction, the temporary reception shaft will be backfilled with the selected excavated material and
compacted in layers to avoid any future depressions or soft spots. A protective concrete matt
protection will be constructed in the foreshore to prevent damage to the pipe due to wave action and
scouring. The seabed will be fully restored to its original condition using excavated backfilled material
upon completion. All plant and reception shaft material will be removed from site by marine transport
only.

20121213 Method Statement for Sea Outfall Construction

December 2012

Arklow Sewerage Scheme

Outline Method Statement for Sea Outfall Construction

3.0 PROPOSED SEA OUTFALL AND DIFFUSER SYSTEM

2.13.1 General

Formatted: Bullets and Numbering

The 500mm ID Sea Outfall pipe will have a diffuser section at its extremity. The constituent material
of the outfall pipe could be welded steel, welded polyethylene or some other equivalent material that
can be formed into a continuous length. The diffuser section will terminate in deep water approx.
990m from the low water mark. Details of the proposed outfall in plan and longitudinal section are
shown on Drawing No. 466/EIS/004 of the EIS. The pipe will run in a south-westerly direction from
the treatment works, skirting the north-eastern end of the concrete sea wall at Porters Rocks.

A surge tank will be constructed within the treatment works, at the head of the outfall pipe. A valving
arrangement at the surge tank will allow a regular flushing of the submarine pipe and will prevent
fouling of the diffuser section.

3.2

Construction of the Work

Construction of the outfall pipe will be carried out either prior to or simultaneously with the treatment
works. It will be the Contractors responsibility to assemble the pipeline and to find a location for
preparing it, but access to the beach and sand dune system will be prohibited for these purposes.
This will require assembling the pipeline at an alternative location and floating it into position. A typical
operation is shown in Figure 3.1.

Figure 3.1 Typical marine based transportation of pipes

20121213 Method Statement for Sea Outfall Construction

December 2012

Arklow Sewerage Scheme

Outline Method Statement for Sea Outfall Construction

The outfall pipe will be put into position by burying it in a trench excavated on the seabed. The trench
will be excavated either in one pass or section by section. The bedding material will be placed in
position and the pipeline will be dropped into the trench either all in one pre-fabricated length or
section by section. Surround material will then be placed around the pipe. The trench will also be
back-filled with the excavated material either all at once or section by section. Suitable modes of
construction of the outfall pipe include a bottom-tow method, lay-barge operations or drilling.
Construction of the sea outfall will be carried out during the months of May to October in a single year.

Should the DBO contractor decide on a lay-barge operations, this will require marine based
equipment similar to that in Figure 3.2.

Figure 3.2 Typical Lay-barge operations

A protective concrete mat made of Armorflex or some other equivalent product, will be placed over the
outfall pipe in shallow water (see drawing 466/EIS/004 of the EIS). The concrete mat could be
lowered by crane into position, but other modes of installation suggested by the Contractor will be
taken into consideration.

The mode of connection between the tunnel and outfall pipe is likely to be a proprietary fixing and may
involve welding, bolting or flanging. The method used will depend on the Contractors construction
method for the pipeline.

The end of the diffuser system will be marked with a yellow navigation buoy with a St. Andrews cross
and a flashing yellow beacon that will be in accordance with the requirements of Commissioners of
Irish Lights. This buoy will be connected to the end of the diffuser system via steel chains. Wicklow
County Council or their agents will be responsible for the maintenance of the buoy and the marine
structure.

20121213 Method Statement for Sea Outfall Construction

December 2012

Arklow Sewerage Scheme

Outline Method Statement for Sea Outfall Construction

4.0 PROGRAMME

Construction of the Sea Outfall, which is expected to take 6 months, will either be completed prior to
the commencement of work on the Treatment Works or will be carried out in conjunction with
construction of the Treatment Works.

Construction of the sea outfall will be carried out during the months of May to October in a single year.

The proposed works shall comply in full with the requirements of the Foreshore Act 1933.

20121213 Method Statement for Sea Outfall Construction

December 2012