Irish Water’s €25m wastewater investment project

Tony McLoughlin TD and Cathaoirleach O’Domhnaill cut the ribbon on Irish Water’s €25m wastewater investment project

 Works will stop the discharge of untreated sewage and enhance tourism offering in Bundoran, Killybegs, Glencolumbkille and Convoy

Tony McLoughlin TD and Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council, Cllr Seamus O’Domhnaill, officially opened four wastewater treatment plants in Co Donegal on Friday last. The schemes in Bundoran, Killybegs, Glencolumbkille and Convoy were constructed and upgraded as part of a €25 million investment by Irish Water.

 This essential project, which was carried out by Veolia Water Ireland, will ensure many benefits for the four areas including environmental benefits, improved bathing water quality for surfers and swimmers, enhanced amenity value and the capacity for future population growth.

Working in partnership with Donegal County Council, Irish Water invested in the construction of two new wastewater treatment plants in Bundoran and Killybegs where raw sewage was being discharged out to sea. The works in Bundoran have put a stop to the discharge of the equivalent of 9,600 wheelie bins of raw sewage per day into the sea while in Killybegs, the equivalent of 3,300 wheelie bins of raw sewage are now no longer being discharged. A new wastewater treatment plant was also construted in Glencolumbkille while wastewater infrastructure upgrade works are complete in Convoy.

The event to mark the completion of works at all four locations took place on Friday, 14 September 2018 in Bundoran.

Speaking at the ribbon cutting, Tony McLoughlin TD said: “Prior to the completion of these works, Bundoran and Killybegs were two of the 44 locations around Ireland where wastewater was being discharged into the sea untreated. It is hard to believe that this was permitted to occur for so long considering the importance of the vibrant surfing and sea recreation that takes places in the region.

“Irish Water is to be commended for completing this work as part of its commitment to end the practise of discharging untreated wastewater across Ireland by 2021. This necessary project will ensure environmental protection and improved water quality in four locations across Donegal while underpinning the developmental potential of the four areas.”

Colm Boyd, Irish Water’s Infrastructure Programme Regional Lead added: “These upgrade works will increase the treatment capacity of each of the plants to meet the current needs of the towns and to allow for future growth. The works will also ensure that wastewater is treated and discharged in compliance with the Urban Wastewater Treatment Regulations and with the conditions of the Wastewater Discharge Licence (WWDL) issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). It will also improve the water quality of nearby coastal areas, protecting bathing areas and the aquatic environment from pollution.”

Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council Cllr Seamus O Domhnaill added: “Today is a red letter day for these four communities who will benefit greatly from this €25 million investment by Irish Water. I am delighted to be officially opening these plants and look forward to the benefits they will bring to the four areas.”

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. Delivery of the business plan will involve a €5.5 billion investment in capital spending on drinking water and wastewater quality and capacity and new infrastructure up to 2021 while achieving efficiencies of €1.6bn.