Uisce Éireann is making significant progress on €19 million upgrade works to wastewater infrastructure in Ballina and Newport, Co. Tipperary.

This critical infrastructure will eliminate the discharge of poorly treated wastewater into the receiving waters, resulting in improved water quality as well as accommodating future population growth in Ballina and Newport and surrounding areas.

Works on both upgrade projects are due to be completed by the end of 2024, with Ward and Burke carrying out the works on behalf of Uisce Éireann.

As part of this phase of the project in Ballina, Uisce Éireann contractors had to excavate a trench to submerge the outfall pipe. The essential works are now complete – the water company has confirmed that the discolouration is as a result of movement of riverbed material following these excavation works and low flows in the lough.

Uisce Éireann said this was a short term, localised event. The project team has also put in place mitigation measures for future work.

Uisce Éireann has notified Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) of the event and will also be providing an update to the Environmental Protection Agency.