Irish Water is working in partnership with Tipperary County Council to deliver a new water supply for Thurles which will result in a more secure, safer and cleaner supply of water for the town and surrounding areas.

The €16.6 million investment will involve construction of new water treatment plant and associated network. The new supply will replace 10 existing water treatment plants which are vulnerable to water quality issues.

The project will involve the construction of a new water treatment plant at Killenyearda, along with intake works and a pumping station at Rathkeenan and associated mains.

A contract has been signed with Glan Agua Limited to deliver the project and construction is due to get underway in the coming months.

Commenting on the project, Irish Water’s Programme Manager Lisa Cogan said the project would also enable the realisation of benefits from previous investments in the network and reservoirs in the Thurles Regional Water Supply Scheme.

Irish Water is also starting work on a separate €16 million upgrade of at its Grange, Strandhill, Tubbercurry and Ballinafad wastewater treatment plants.

Benefits include developmental potential, environmental protection and improved water quality. Coffey Northumbrian Limited is carrying out these works on behalf of Irish Water.

The project will also improve the water quality of nearby coastal areas. 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.

The upgrades at the four wastewater treatment plants include the construction of new inlet works, storm water holding tanks, new secondary biological treatment processes, final settlement tanks, a new control building and new sludge thickening facilities.

Capital investment in the region of €700 million per year by Irish Water is needed for a sustained period of several decades to address the poor condition of Ireland’s existing 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 €5.5billion investment in capital spending on drinking water and wastewater quality and capacity and new infrastructure up to 2021. Irish Water spent over €526 million on water and wastewater services in 2017.

Irish Water has also unveiled plans for a new wastewater treatment plant in Spiddal which will end the discharge of untreated wastewater to Galway Bay. The utility will submit a planning application to Galway County Council this year and, subject to statutory approval, works on the project will commence in 2019.