Uisce Éireann has reached a major milestone in its €58 million investment to future-proof wastewater infrastructure in Ballyjamesduff and Virginia in County Cavan.
The water company is making significant progress in the major wastewater plant upgrades which are well on track to be completed by early 2027.
The upgrades to the two plants, situated just ten kilometers apart, represent a combined investment of €58 million into the wastewater infrastructure of Cavan. Once complete, the upgraded plants will support the wastewater needs of approximately 12,000 people across Ballyjamesduff and Virginia, paving the way for new housing and business development in both towns.
As well as increasing capacity, the upgrade works will ensure that wastewater treated at both plants will be compliant with all EU and EPA treatment and discharge directives. An investment of approximately €33 million is being made in the Virginia plant upgrade, with a further €25 million being invested in Ballyjamesduff.
The wastewater treatment plant in Virginia is on track to triple its capacity, increasing from a design load of 2,000 population equivalent (PE) to 6,000 PE. The significant expansion will support future residential and commercial growth in the town. Meanwhile, Ballyjamesduff is also set to benefit from a major upgrade, with its plant capacity more than doubling - from 2,200 PE to 5,200 PE - ensuring the infrastructure is ready to meet the needs of a growing community.
Progress is moving swiftly in Ballyjamesduff, with teams managing the unique challenges of a long, narrow site and the complexities of delivering major upgrade works within a live wastewater treatment environment. As part of the project approximately 1.5 kilometres of new underground pipe and 9.5km of cable have already been laid, alongside nearly 200 tonnes of steel.
A key feature of the construction works in Virginia is the installation of a new pumping station west of the River Blackwater, requiring advanced technology to tunnel beneath the riverbed and connect it to the main plant on the east side. Another major element is the new outfall, positioned approximately 300 metres into Lough Ramor. Specialist contractors carried out detailed lakebed surveys over the summer, and construction is now well underway. On the ground, the scale of progress is clear: over 175 tonnes of steel have been used and more than 10,000 cubic metres of earth excavated to date.
Patrick Greene, Portfolio Manager at Uisce Éireann, highlighted the positive momentum of the upgrade works in Ballyjamesduff and Virginia, commenting:
“Works at the two plants are continuing on schedule, and we anticipate that both will be complete and ready for commissioning by early 2027.”
Contractors Veolia are carrying out the works on behalf of Uisce Éireann.
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