Manx Utilities has announced it has selected sites for new regional sewage treatment plants for Peel and Laxey.

Its announcement came as the new regional sewage works at Balladoole, Ramsey, became fully operational - finally bringing to an end the discharge of raw effluent into the sea in the north of the island.

In Peel, Manx Utilities has purchased a site known as Glenfaba House on the Glenfaba Road.

And in Laxey, the authority has purchased part of the chalet site which already houses some sewage outfall infrastructure.

The Glenfaba site was one of four options considered by the Manx Utilities, the others being the Ballaterson fields adjacent to the power station, Knockaloe, and a site next to Glenfaba House on the seaward side.

The authority said the Glenfaba site has many advantages, not least removing the need for large lorries to drive through Peel to service the facility. Access will not require the building of a bridge and the site is well concealed and not visible even from Peel Hill.

It said: ’Manx Utilities is also confident the selected site is the best option in terms of minimising the visual impact.’

The authority said it worked with ’key stakeholders’, local commissioners and landowners over the selection of the sites.

It said: ’Manx Utilities believes the sites in Peel and Laxey represent good value for money and will present opportunities to minimise the whole life operating costs.’

The projects are aimed to be completed by 2021, subject to financial and planning approval, tendering and bid appraisal, design and surveying and contract placement. ’We can confidently state, however, that securing these sites means that we are still on track to achieve our objectives,’ Manx Utilities added.

The Laxey site already has an outfall and some sewerage infrastructure which Manx Utilities said would make it a ’perfect location’.

It said the plant would used closed natural treatment units and the history of the location will be kept in due consideration during the design process.

Meanwhile , the regional sewage treatment works at Balladoole - which is one of the largest construction projects the island has seen for many years - is now fully commissioned, having been completed within budget.

Chairman Alex Allinson MHK said: ’I am extremely proud of the work undertaken by the Manx Utilities team and contractors in completing this huge milestone and providing ’first-time’ clean beaches for the north of the island.

’The design, construction and commissioning of new regional sewage treatment infrastructure serving Peel and Laxey must be completed by 2021.’