Irish Water, working in partnership with Wicklow County Council, are progressing works to deliver the Arklow Wastewater Treatment Plant project to end the current practice of discharging untreated wastewater into the Avoca River.

The project includes the following:

• New wastewater treatment plant to treat a population of 36,000
• Two interceptor sewer pipelines (along North and South Quay) to bring untreated wastewater to the proposed plant
• A marine sea outfall pipe to safely discharge the treated wastewater effluent to the Irish Sea

Irish Water has now identified the preferred site for the new plant following three non-statutory public consultation phases.

All site investigation survey works have now been completed along the North and South Quays and at the preferred site for the WwTP. All works in the marine area have now also been completed including archaeological surveys, ecological surveys and a bathymetric survey as well as a non-intrusive ground investigation survey.

The water company is currently undertaking ongoing assessments of coastal erosion. The architectural design of the wastewater treatment plant and landscape design of the site, together with the design of the technical elements of the plant. have been developed.

Irish Water is also working with the Office of Public Works (OPW) to finalise how the design for the project and the Flood Relief Scheme for the Avoca River can work together.

Following completion and agreement of the final scope of the integration works, Irish Water expects to submit a planning application this summer to An Bord Pleanála.

Investing in Ireland’s infrastructure is a key priority

Capital investment in the region of €700 million per year is needed for a sustained period of several decades to address the poor condition of Ireland’s water infrastructure. Works have been prioritised to address the most critical issues in line with commitments outlined in Irish Water’s Business Plan up to 2021.

Irish Water spent over €526 million on water and wastewater services in 2017. From 2016 – 2021, the utility is ramping up investment to spend an average of €326m per year on wastewater infrastructure and plans to have all discharges to rivers and seas treated before being released by 2021.

Other projects the utility is currently progressing include the construction of a new reservoir, over 4km of water mains and a booster station for the Clonmel Regional Water Supply Scheme North Storage Reservoir. Irish Water has signed a contract with John Cradock Ltd to deliver the project.

Irish Water is also working in partnership with Cork County Council on a proposed scheme to deliver an upgrade to the Millstreet Wastewater Treatment Plant which is currently operating over its design capacity.

The project will include the new treatment plant and associated infrastructure including a storm water storage tank, preliminary treatment equipment, secondary treatment tanks, 1.3km of new sewer pipes along Station Road to bring the treated wastewater discharge to the River Finnow and replacement of the existing Mount Leader Pumping Station.