Tuesday 14th March 2023, Co. Wexford: John Sisk & Son (Sisk) and Uisce Éireann (Irish Water) have completed a new wastewater treatment plant in Arthurstown and was officially opened by Minister Darragh O’ Brien, TD and officials from Uisce Éireann and Wexford County Council.
The €15.6 million investment, completed by Sisk for Uisce Éireann involved the construction of a new, state-of-the-art wastewater treatment plant in Arthurstown, three new pumping stations and new sewer pipelines which will also serve the nearby villages of Ballyhack and Duncannon.
The new treatment plant and associated infrastructure will bring significant benefits to the local community in terms of protecting the environment and improving the water quality to the Barrow, Nore, and Suir Estuary. It will also act as an enabler for housing and will support economic growth and development in these areas.
A ceremony to mark the official opening of the new wastewater treatment plant in Arthurstown and completion of the sewerage scheme was led by the Minister of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien TD and supported by Cathaoirleach of Wexford County Council, Councillor George Lawlor and Chairman of New Ross Municipal District Michael Sheehan.
Will Merriman, General Manager, Civils Ireland, John Sisk & Son said: “Sisk is delighted to have delivered this vital piece of infrastructure for Uisce Éireann. This facility will add significant benefits to the local environment and local communities in Co. Wexford. Sisk has considerable experience and capability within our civil engineering team to deliver similar schemes and we look forward to working with Uisce Éireann on future projects.”
Minister O’Brien commended Uisce Éireann and Wexford County Council on the completion of this significant project for the area, stating: “The delivery of this vital project for the communities of Arthurstown, Ballyhack and Duncannon is pivotal to stopping the discharge of raw sewage into the estuary and protecting our natural environment.”
Paul Fallon, Uisce Éireann, added: “The size and scale of the challenge to end raw sewage discharges is well documented. At the end of 2022, Uisce Éireann had built new wastewater infrastructure for 21 towns and villages across the county where treatment had never existed before.
“Nationally, over 65% of raw sewage discharge by volume has been eliminated through targeted investment in new sewerage infrastructure and we are on target to eliminate nearly all of the remainder by 2025. The new infrastructure has stopped the discharge of about 20 million litres of raw sewerage every day, which equates to the sewage generated by over 100,000 people”.
Sisk and Uisce Éireann is also progressing works to end the discharge of raw sewage in Kilmore Quay with construction of a new sewerage scheme and wastewater treatment infrastructure well underway for the village.
Uisce Éireann is responsible for the delivery of all public water and wastewater services in Ireland. We are committed to continuously upgrading and developing critical infrastructure to support the growth needed in housing and across our economy, while protecting the environment and safeguarding water supplies.
ENDS
