Irish Water has completed an upgrade to the storm tank at its Kinnegad Wastewater Treatment Plant  which will ensure that the utility is fully compliant with EU Urban Wastewater Directives.

The €170,000 investment has increased the capacity of the storm water holding at the wastewater treatment plant which will ensure more efficient treatment at the plant. The increased capacity of the storm water tank will reduce the risk of overflows at times of storms and heavy rainfall. This will benefit the environment as the investment has reduced the risk of overflows to the nearby Kinnegad River.

Investing in Ireland’s wastewater infrastructure is a key priority for Irish Water. Between 2014 and 2015, Irish Water invested €166 million in Ireland’s wastewater infrastructure, an increase of 22% from 2011 to 2013. From 2016 – 2021, the remaining period of the Irish Water Business Plan, the utility is ramping up investment to spend an average of €326 million per year on wastewater infrastructure. The investment in the Kinnegad Wastewater Treatment Plant is part of this investment programme.

Commenting on the project Padraig Farrell, Capital Programmes Lead, East and Midlands Region said:

 “Investment in the Kinnegad Wastewater Treatment plant has increased the efficiency of the plant and reduced the risk of overflows at times of heavy rainfall. This investment will benefit the environment as the risk to overflows into the Kinnegad River has been reduced.”

By 2021 Irish Water plans to have all discharges to rivers and seas treated before being released - the utility collects wastewater from over 1,000 separate communities connected to the wastewater network and treats around 1,600 million litres of wastewater daily before discharging it back into rivers, harbours and coastal areas.