Irish Water, Ireland’s national utility responsible for providing and developing water and wastewater services throughout Ireland, started work this week on a new waste water treatment plant in Shanbally as part of the Cork Lower Harbour Main Drainage Project.

The utility is making an overall investment of €91 million in the project which will eliminate the discharge of untreated sewage into the Lower Harbour.

Currently untreated sewage from Cobh, Carrigaline (including Crosshaven), Passage West/Monkstown (including Glenbrook) and Ringaskiddy (including Shanbally and Coolmore) is discharged into the Lower Harbour on a daily basis.

Commenting on the project, Déaglán Healy, Project Manager at Irish Water said:

 "We welcome the start of works on the new Wastewater Treatment Plant in the Cork Lower Harbour area. Irish Water’s priority is to develop infrastructure capable of providing quality wastewater services across the country. The development of a new Wastewater Treatment Plant will improve wastewater treatment for the communities around Lower Harbour. A sustainable Wastewater Treatment Plant will bring health and environmental benefits to the growing local population as well as improved water quality for all who enjoy the wonderful natural resource. The Wastewater Treatment Plant will start treating sewage in late 2016 with immediate benefits to the Lower Harbour.”

Irish Water invested €340m in improving water and waste water services in 2014 and will invest over €410 million in improving water services during 2015. The spend will increase over subsequent years - capital investment in the region of €600m per year is required for a sustained period of several decades, to address acknowledged deficiencies in the country’s water infrastructure.