Irish Water and Wexford County Council have announced that contracts have been signed with the Sisk Group to begin works on the new wastewater treatment plant which will be located in Arthurstown.

The treatment plant will also serve the areas of Ballyhack and Duncannon providing wastewater treatment for the equivalent of almost 1875 people.

Additional site investigation and clearance work will begin shortly with the main works to follow in the coming months, with the project due to be completed in 2023. The treatment plant will support social and economic development in these areas of county Wexford and will also safeguard marine life.

Séamus Glynn, Irish Water's Regional Delivery Lead commented:

“We are delighted that the contracts are now signed, and that works can commence very soon. This is such a beautiful part of the country and to think that the equivalent of 1,500 wheelie bins of raw sewage was flowing into the Barrow, Nore, Suir estuary every day is extremely disappointing.

“The size and scale of the challenge of raw sewage discharging into our water ways is well documented, however, the good news is that Irish Water has a plan to get to grips with this and with this project, we will eliminate that practice in this area and go a long way to not only supporting social and economic development but to protect our marine life in the years to come too.”

The project will see Irish Water investing €12.8 million, resolving an issue that has been problematic for the area for many years.

New Ross District Director for Wexford County Council, Eamonn Hore added:

"The works, when completed will bring great benefits to the villages and surrounding areas in terms of environmental improvements, water quality, development, tourism and investment.”

Since 2014, Irish Water has built new wastewater infrastructure for 16 towns and villages across the country, ending the discharge of raw sewage into rivers, lakes and seas.

Across the bay in Dunmore East and all along the Waterford coastline, the practice of discharging raw sewage into the waterways has been eliminated since 2017.

The investment of €24 million there delivered seven new wastewater treatment plants in towns and villages across Co. Waterford including Ardmore, Ballyduff/Kilmeadan, Cappoquin, Dunmore East, Kilmacthomas, Stradbally and Tallow.

Half of the raw sewage entering waterways in Ireland has now been eliminated and there is a plan to remove the remainder in the years to come.