23 minute read
IRISH WATER UPDATES
Four Wastewater Treatment Plants Open In Sligo
A special event has been held to mark the official opening of four wastewater treatment plants in Co Sligo.
Approximately €16 million was invested in the Grange, Strandhill, Tubbercurry and Ballinafad Wastewater Treatment Plants to ensure treated wastewater is now fully compliant with EU Urban Wastewater Directives before being safely discharged back into the natural environment.
Cathaoirleach of Sligo County Council, Cllr Paul Taylor was joined by representatives from Irish Water and more to mark the opening.
Speaking at the official opening Councillor Taylor said: "I'm delighted to be here to witness the successful completion and official opening of Grange, Strandhill, Tubbercurry and Ballinafad Wastewater Treatment Plants. The completion of these essential projects is vital to ensure we can provide a platform for future growth in these communities. They will also make a huge difference to the water quality of nearby coastal areas including Rosses Point and at Streedagh Beach and the water quality in Tubbercurry Stream, River Moy and in Lough Arrow."
The new and upgraded treatment plants will bring huge benefits to the local communities in terms of protection of the environment; improved water quality for all water sport enthusiasts; swimmers, surfers, kayakers as well as marine life. The works in Strandhill included the construction of a new inlet works, storm water holding tank, secondary biological treatment, settlement tanks, a control building, sludge thickening facility as well as an upgrade to the existing Caravan Park Pumping Station. The capacity of the upgraded wastewater treatment plant in Strandhill has more than doubled and can now serve a population equivalent of 3,700.
In Grange, the capacity of the upgraded treatment plant has now tripled and the plant can serve a population equivalent of 900. The upgrade works also included the construction of new inlet works, a storm water holding tank, a secondary biological treatment process, final settlement tanks, a control building and sludge thickening facility.
As part of this investment, a state of the art wastewater treatment plant was built in Tubbercurry. The capacity of the new plant has more than doubled and can now serve a population equivalent of 3,500. The works also included upgrades to the inlet pumping station, new inlet works, storm water holding tank, a secondary biological treatment process, final settlement tanks, a control building and sludge thickening facility. A gravity sewer pipeline to the wastewater treatment plant was also constructed as well as a rising main to bring treated wastewater to the outfall location at the River Moy.
In Ballinafad a new wastewater treatment plant was built within the site of the existing plant which now serves a population equivalent of 200. The works included the construction of new inlet works, a storm water holding tank, a secondary biological treatment process, settlement tanks and a sludge storage facility.
Anthony Skeffington, Irish Water's Regional Operations Manager added: "The size and scale of the challenge of wastewater services in Ireland is well documented. In 2020 alone, Irish Water invested €333 million in wastewater infrastructure, an increase of €25 million on 2019. Approximately, 60% of the raw sewage entering waterways in Ireland has now been eliminated and we are on track to fully removing the majority of raw sewage discharges by 2025. We are achieving 93% compliance with the urban wastewater treatment directive, but we know we have more to do.
"The upgrades to the four wastewater treatment plants that we are celebrating today will ensure that wastewater is adequately treated and meets appropriate standards before being safely discharged back into the environment."
Turfs up in Liscannor as sod is turned on new Wastewater Treatment Plant
The community of Liscannor was riding high on the crest of a wave this morning at Liscannor Harbour where Irish Water, working in partnership with Clare County Council turned the sod on a new Wastewater Treatment Plant for the village. And the good news kept flowing for the Banner County with confirmation that contracts have been signed and issued to provide wastewater treatment in Kilfenora and Kilrush, respectively.
“This is a significant day for County Clare and its natural environment,” said Caroline OʼReilly, Programme Manager with Irish Water.
“These projects have been in the pipeline for many years and are now finally coming to the fore. I am delighted to be here today to represent Irish Water and to meet representatives from the communities of Liscannor, Kilrush and Kilfenora. These projects will eliminate the raw and poorly treated sewage that is flowing into their beautiful waterways and the Atlantic and will support social and economic development, while also protecting the integrity of our environment.”
Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council, PJ Ryan hails from Cratloe, an hour to the east of Liscannor. Cllr Ryan has been an elected member of Clare County Council since 2009 and although he is not from the areas benefitting from the new infrastructure, he has been involved in many a discussion about the issues at these settlements inside and outside of the council chamber.
“This significant investment by Irish Water in new and upgraded wastewater infrastructure in Liscannor, Kilrush and Kilfenora is long awaited and very welcome. These projects will result in improved quality of coastal and groundwaters, thereby helping to protect the environment and improve the quality of life in our communities. It is my hope that the people of Clare will build on these successful projects and that they will help to revitalise the economy and communities of West and North Clare.”
Also, in attendance was Senator Róisín Garvey, who along with other elected representatives have campaigned for wastewater infrastructure for the Banner County for many years. Senator Garvey also featured in Irish Waterʼs compelling documentary, “Story of Water” where she documented the issue of untreated wastewater in Clare.
“It's a great day for Liscannor and the whole bay. Many people, including myself, worked hard on getting this infrastructure prioritised through campaigning to highlight the issues. It is super to see Irish Water recognising the badly needed infrastructure and committing to put in a state-of-the-art system with a much more realistic capacity than the old system.”
The works in Liscannor will be carried out by the EPS Group and some of the work details include the construction of a new wastewater treatment plant which will serve a population equivalent of 1,790; the construction of a storm water storage tank as well as a new pump station with emergency storage; the construction of approximately 1.3km of sewer pipelines; the connection to the existing outfall pipe to safely discharge treated wastewater into Liscannor Bay.
There were other familiar faces at the harbour lending their support to the projects too. “Story of Water” contributor and well-known surfer, Ollie OʼFlaherty commented: "It's great to see infrastructural investment in the area. In recent years, Liscannor Bay has had issues with water quality resulting in multiple beach closures in Lahinch, notably in summer months. These have a very negative economic effect on local business which rely heavily on the summer months. As a surfer and someone environmentally minded, I am conscious of the detrimental effect mankind can have on the ocean, so itʼs important to make improvements where we can and protect this incredible, natural amenity.”
Councillor Shane Talty, is well known locally around the bay area, and has also been campaigning for such infrastructure along with his fellow elected representatives for a long time: “I welcome the hugely important and long-awaited delivery of such a key piece of infrastructure for the village of Liscannor. It obviously addresses the well documented deficiencies in the existing system. But more excitingly, it will release the untapped potential of the village to develop over the coming decades. Building a year-round economy and living population which will support the great community of Liscannor.”
Pat Dowling Chief Executive Clare County Council, PJ Ryan Mayor of Clare, Caroline OʼReilly Irish Water and Ollie OʼFlaherty local surfer
In Kilfenora and Kilrush, the works will also be carried out by the EPS Group and will include the decommissioning of the current Wastewater Treatment Plant in Kilfenora and the construction of a new plant that will serve the population equivalent of 330. In Kilrush, the plant will be significantly larger and will cater for a population equivalent of 8,500.
Irish Water continues to work with our Local Authority partners, contractors and others to safeguard the health and well-being of both staff and the public and to ensure the continuity of critical drinking water and wastewater services. Irish Water would like to remind people to follow the HSE COVID-19 advice and ensure frequent handwashing.
This is a red-letter day for the Banner County, one that marks a new beginning for the communities and their surrounding areas.
Ministers visit Farranfore water project to hear about the benefits The 600mm main is part of the network, supplying water from Killarney to Tralee, Castleisland and Castlemaine
Irish Water, working in partnership with Kerry County Council, is delivering a project to replace a problematic trunk water main through Farranfore village on behalf of the people of Kerry. The 600mm main is part of the spine of the network in Kerry, supplying water from Killarney to Tralee, Castleisland, Castlemaine and surrounding areas. The section in Farranfore has burst numerous times in recent years. Works began early last week on the project. Minister Norma Foley and Minister Darragh O'Brien visited the site today to meet staff involved in delivering the project and view their work first hand.
Eamonn Hickson from Radio Kerry also visited the site last Thursday night, interviewing staff and seeing the works underway.
The works are being carried out during evening and night-time hours – from 7pm to 7am Monday evening to Friday morning and will continue until the end of October. To ensure as little disruption to homes, businesses, commuters and holiday makers as possible, Irish Water, Kerry County Council and our contractor, Ward and Burke, have agreed that the works will be carried out by night. The N22 Killarney to Tralee road will have a one lane stop-go system in place from 7pm-7am, Monday to Friday from August 30 until the end of October 2021, with the road reopening fully during the day. No works will be carried out over the weekend for the duration of the works schedule.
An optional alternative route that bypasses the works will be signposted and vehicles may take the alternative routes if they wish.
It will come as no surprise to residents and businesses of the area that there have been regular bouts of unplanned outages in the recent past due to the aging network. The size and scale of this challenge, not only in Kerry but nationally, is well documented and reacting to this, Irish Water is implementing their strategic plan, the Leakage Reduction Programme, to ensure security of supply, the reduction of high levels of leakage and the improvement of water quality in the county.
Steven Blennerhassett is Regional Delivery Lead with Irish Water; “We are delighted to welcome Minister Norma Foley and Minister Darragh O'Brien to site today to hear first-hand about our progress in delivering this project. These works are part of Irish Waterʼs national Leakage Reduction Programme and began last Monday night and we have made great progress in the first week, with 190m of the 1km of new trunk main already installed.
“Eamonn Hickson from Radio Kerry visited on Thursday night and met staff from Irish Water, Kerry County Council and Ward and Burke who gave him a tour of the works.
“Irish Water understands these types of works can be inconvenient and we are working with Kerry County Council, our contractor Ward and Burke and all stakeholders to make every effort to minimise any disruption the works may cause.
“In order to ensure minimal disruption, our crews have finished and had the road cleared each weekday morning at 7am. Local businesses will remain open for the duration of the works. A minimum of 48 hoursʼ notice will be given ahead of any planned outages and at this stage, there will likely be two planned outages and that are both due to take place in October.”
As the works get underway in Farranfore, Irish Water and colleagues in Kerry County Council continue to safeguard water supply right across the Kingdom and appreciate the cooperation of those impacted by the improvements.
Staff from IW_KCC_Ward and Burke on site at Farranfore
Irish Water marks the end of the discharge of raw sewage from Cobh Town
Irish Water and Cork County Council today marked a significant milestone in the Cork Lower Harbour Main Drainage Project to end the decades-long practice of discharging raw sewage into Cork Lower Harbour, protecting the environment and supporting the sustainable development and growth of local communities in the years to come.
Taoiseach Micheál Martinofficially opened the Cork Dockyard Pumping Station, which transfers raw sewage from Cobh for treatment.
This last step in the Cork Lower Harbour Main Drainage Project means that 20,000 homes and businesses are now connected to the overall scheme and that the equivalent of 40,000 wheelie bins of raw sewage no longer discharges daily to the waters of the harbour. This is good news for recreation, tourism and economic development in the area.
Speaking at the official opening, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said: “This is a historic day for the communities living in and around Cork Lower Harbour, completing a project that ensures a cleaner harbour, and provides new opportunities for sustainable social and economic development.
“We have already seen the benefits that this project has brought to Ringaskiddy, Shanbally, Crosshaven, Carrigaline, Passage West and Monkstown.
“This final stage will add to that improvement – providing further capacity for growth and enhancing the wonderful amenity that is Cork Harbour, the second largest natural harbour in the world.”
Mayor of Cork County Council, Cllr Gillian Coughlan said: “The ending of raw sewage discharges from Cobh town will make a huge difference to the town and surrounding area, by providing opportunities for sustainable development around Cork Lower Harbour and increasing the potential for tourism and recreational activities in the area.”
Eamon Gallen, Irish Waterʼs General Manager, said: “Today is a hugely significant milestone in Irish waterʼs work to eliminate raw sewage discharges in Ireland. “The completion of this work brings to 17 the number of towns and villages across the country where Irish Water has built new wastewater infrastructure since 2014. Well over half of the raw sewage entering waterways in Ireland has now been eliminated and we are on track to fully remove the majority of raw sewage discharges in Ireland by 2025. This represents an overall investment of €650 million towards improving water quality in our rivers, lakes and seas, ensuring compliance with Irish and European legislation to the benefit of our local communities, our environment and our economy.” Déaglán Healy, Irish Waterʼs project manager, added: “We have come a long way since we started work on this project in 2014. “When we started, the equivalent of 40,000 wheelie bins of raw sewage was discharging into Cork Harbour every day. We built a state of the art wastewater treatment plant in Shanbally and connected existing networks in Crosshaven and Carrigaline to the plant, so that half of this sewage was treated by 2017. We expanded the sewer network to connect the towns of Ringaskiddy, Shanbally, Passage West and Monkstown, by early 2019. We then created a vital link between Cobh and Monkstown by completing two of the longest directional drills in the country to install sewer pipes some 60m under the Estuary. “Today, after two years working to expand the sewer network in Cobh, we are now transferring the raw sewage from Cobh for treatment via that Estuary Crossing, before its safe discharge to sea – itʼs a great day. I am proud to have worked on this project and I am thankful to all those that have contributed to make this a reality. The Cobh Network works have been delivered safely through a hugely collaborative effort between Irish Water, Cork County Council, Nicholas O Dwyer, Farrans Sorensen Joint Venture and of course, all the communities and businesses whose cooperation and patience have allowed these works to succeed. Iʼd like to say a huge thank you to all.”
Johanna Murphy, Cobh and Harbour Chamber President, Tony Keohane, Chairman Ervia Board, An Taoiseach Micheal Martin TD, Eamon Gallen, General Manager Irish Water, Cllr Gillian Coughlan, Mayor Cork County Council
Irish Water is working at this time, with our local authority partners, contractors and others to safeguard the health and well-being of staff and the public and to ensure the continuity of drinking water and wastewater services.
For more information on the project, please contact the project team at corklowerharbour@water.ie or view our Cork Lower Harbour project page.
Irish Water is committed to keeping customers informed about their water and wastewater supplies across multiple platforms 24/7 and we encourage customers to engage with us on our Twitter channels @IWCare and @IrishWater, on Facebook and LinkedIn, through our customer care helpline which is open 24/7 on 1800 278 278 and by setting their location on our website.
Irish Water is delighted to announce that construction has commencement on the Kerrykeel Sewerage Scheme. The new wastewater treatment plant and sewerage infrastructure to be constructed as part of this scheme will eliminate the discharge of raw sewage into Brunside River and subsequently Mulroy Bay.
Irish Water, working in partnership with Donegal County Council, are commencing the construction of a new wastewater treatment plant in Kerrykeel as well as the construction of a new pumping station, pumped wastewater main and outfall pipe.
Once operational, the new wastewater treatment plant and associated infrastructure will ensure compliance with wastewater discharge regulations. It will also improve water quality in Brunside River and subsequently Mulroy Bay and protect recreational waters for fishing, kayaking and other water sports. It will also help in protecting the integrity of the local marine environment and supporting future economic and social development in the area.
The works which have commenced this month will be carried out by Veolia Water Ireland working on behalf of Irish Water and will be completed by early 2023.
Speaking about the project, Colm
Claffey, Regional Delivery Lead
with Irish Water, said: “We are looking forward to delivering this important project on behalf of the local community in Kerrykeel. This project will put an end to the discharge of untreated wastewater into Brunside River and subsequently Mulroy Bay. The project will also enhance the local environment and provide a platform for social and economic development of the area well into the future.
“The project will involve the construction of a new wastewater treatment plant that will serve a population equivalent of 500, which equates to stopping over 270 wheelie bins of raw sewage being discharged to Brunside River every day. A new pumping station and pumped wastewater main will also be constructed, which will transfer wastewater to the new wastewater treatment plant for appropriate treatment. Once the wastewater is treated at the new plant, the treated water will be discharged safely back into the environment via a new outfall pipe into Brunside River.
“We look forward to working with the local community to deliver this essential project in conjunction with our partners Donegal County Council and Veolia Water Ireland and eliminating the discharge of untreated wastewater into Brunside River and subsequently Mulroy Bay.”
Irish Water and our appointed Contractor, Veolia Water Ireland, will continue to communicate with the local community in Kerrykeel regarding the upcoming works as well as throughout the project.
For more details on the project, please check out our Kerrykeel Sewerage Scheme project page.
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200,000 Dubliners to benefit from the completion of new Stillorgan Reservoir
Over 200,000 Dubliners will now enjoy a much safer and more secure water supply with the completion of the new Stillorgan Reservoir by Irish Water. High quality drinking water from the new covered reservoir is now being supplied to customers across south Dublin as a result of this landmark project.
The original Stillorgan Reservoir had supplied drinking water to the community for over 150 years. It was the largest treated water reservoir in the country and was one of the last remaining uncovered treated water reservoirs in Europe, where treated drinking water was left exposed to the elements, with consequent risk of contamination.
By building a new covered reservoir, Irish Water has taken an important step in ensuring that the water supply infrastructure is in place to meet current requirements and the future needs of its customers. The size and scale of this project is very significant. The project involved draining down and decommissioning the three existing reservoirs at the Stillorgan site, and the construction of a new covered reservoir within the footprint of the largest reservoir.
John Prendeville, Project Manager with Irish Water, explained: “Generations of Dubliners have been supplied with clean drinking water from this site for over 150 years. The Stillorgan Reservoir Upgrade Project represents a €50m investment in the long term solution to safeguard this strategically important part of Dublinʼs water supply for the future. The reservoir site will remain a live drinking water storage, treatment, and distribution centre for over 200,000 customers and an essential part of Dublinʼs water services infrastructure for the long term.
“The new reservoir has the capacity to store 160 million litres of treated drinking water – thatʼs the equivalent of over 60 Olympic sized swimming pools. This will mean a much safer and more secure water supply for customers across south Dublin. The significant milestone has been delivered on time and to budget through a hugely collaborative effort between Irish Water, Dublin City Council, Nicholas OʼDwyer Ltd, Murphy International Ltd and of course, the local community, whose cooperation and patience have allowed these works to succeed.”
The Stillorgan Reservoir site was originally constructed as part of the Vartry Water Supply Scheme. The overall scheme includes two impounding reservoirs at Roundwood, County Wicklow, a water treatment plant, a four kilometre long tunnel under Callowhill and 40 kilometres of trunk mains to deliver water to the Stillorgan Reservoir. At the time, the scheme greatly improved sanitation in Dublin City and helped reduce outbreaks of cholera, typhus and other diseases associated with contaminated water.
Work began on the upgrade project in 2018 with the draining down of the Gray Reservoir, which had not been fully drained since it was built in the late 1800ʼs. The new covered reservoir was then constructed within the footprint of the Gray Reservoir.
The new reservoir is a key component of Dublinʼs strategic water infrastructure, which links the supply from five major water treatment plants through an integrated network of trunk mains and reservoirs. The reservoir and associated infrastructure will have the capacity to support future water demand through 2031 and beyond. Irish Water previously installed a new Ultra Violet disinfection system to mitigate the recontamination risk of drinking water stored in the reservoir which resulted in the removal of the site from the EPAʼs Remedial Action List in 2015.
Now that the new covered reservoir is operational, draining and decommissioning of the remaining open reservoir storage on the site has commenced. The decommissioned areas will be landscaped and the completed site will be reserved for future water services infrastructure to secure drinking water for the community.
To find out more about the fascinating history of Stillorgan Reservoir and its role in supplying generations of Dubliners with drinking water, check out the documentary The Story of Water which can be viewed online at www.water.ie/storyofwater.
Benefits of new Wastewater Treatment Plant in Wexford outlined in video campaign
Irish Water has produced a series of new videos to outline the benefits and progress being made to eliminate raw sewage discharged into our waterways in locations across the country. The first video, which will go live on Tuesday October 19 focuses on Wexford and as the drone footage rolls across the estuary of the three sisters; the Barrow, Nore and Suir, the unmistakable beauty of the area is immediately clear for all to see. Thousands have flocked to the beautiful village of Arthurstown in the townland of Coleman in south Wexford for many decades and its neighbouring Duncannon and Ballyhack are also popular seaside destinations, but there was always one problem. Poorly treated sewage was being discharged into the sea for decades, blemishing the inimitable beauty of these amazing coastal gems. But that is soon set to change with a new wastewater treatment plant being built in Arthurstown that will cater for all three settlements.
Lorraine Waters is the Manager of the Hook
Lighthouse and Heritage Centre and is one of the local contributors in the video;
“There are 19 local beaches in a ten-mile radius here. Itʼs absolutely incredible. And thatʼs why, you know, why we were so excited when we heard that this new wastewater treatment plant was in the pipeline and that would ensure that, as weʼre advertising our area that we know that we are giving that quality of water. At the end of the day, its why people are coming down here, that wide open space. Itʼs that beautiful clear water.”
Caroline Helfer of Hooked Kitesurfing and is passionate about water sports; “I think itʼs a great thing they are doing and its important, especially for such a small country thatʼs very very much focused on water activity and surrounded by it [water]. Water quality is very important for everybody. Our kiting lessons are in the water, so our students end up properly fully submerged in the water, so when thereʼs a problem, we have to warn the students that there is a health risk attached to them doing the activity at the time. If there was a Blue Flag beach here, it would bring in additional tourism activity. It would probably bring in additional businesses to the area. From a revenue point of view, tourism itself, for the economy, it would make a huge impact” The new wastewater treatment plant will have the capacity to cater for a population equivalent of nearly 2,000 people and will protect the integrity of the environment. And there was more good news for Wexford too with a contract due to be signed in the coming weeks for a Wastewater Treatment Plant at Kilmore Quay with works set to begin in early 2022. That project is due for completion in 2023. Across the bay in Dunmore East and all along the Waterford coastline, the practice of discharging raw sewage into the waterways has been eliminated since 2017. The investment of €24 million there delivered seven new wastewater treatment plants in towns and villages across Co. Waterford including Ardmore, Ballyduff/Kilmeadan, Cappoquin, Dunmore East, Kilmacthomas, Stradbally and Tallow. Sixty percent of the raw sewage entering waterways in Ireland has now been eliminated, with 17 locations complete, and a plan to remove the remainder in the years to come. Irish Water is progressing plans to remove the rest by prioritising the areas where we can make the biggest impacts first. This year, we will start construction in at least 14 locations across the country, with 8 more starting in 2022. We are on track to removing the majority of raw sewage discharges by the end of 2025. The size and scale of this work is significant, with an estimated €650million investment. Irish Water is responsible for the delivery of all public water and wastewater services in Ireland. We are committed to continuously upgrading and developing critical infrastructure to support the growth needed in housing and across our economy, while protecting the environment and safeguarding water supplies.
