Funding to allow Kildare County Council to accept a tender of just over €24.6 million for the construction of a new water treatment plant has been approved.

The bid, from Veolia Water Ireland is for construction of the Srowland Water Treatment Plant Design Build Operate (DBO) Contract which is the main component of the River Barrow Abstraction Scheme.

John Gormley, Minister for the Environment, gave the green light last week and said the River Barrow Abstraction Scheme involves the construction of a new water treatment plant at Srowland near Athy and pipeline contracts to connect the water treatment plant to two service reservoirs at Ardscull and Old Kilcullen.

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The Council has already completed an advance contract, which provided for the construction of an electrical building for the scheme to ensure that an adequate electrical supply was in place when work on the water treatment plant commences.

"When completed the River Barrow Abstraction Scheme will reduce future demand pressures on the Liffey System serving the Greater Dublin Area and will ensure that the consumers in South West Kildare will have a secure and good quality water supply for many years to come.

"This major scheme represents continuing capital investment under my Department's Water Services Investment Programme to improve water services infrastructure in County Kildare.

"This investment also reflects the Government's commitment to ensure our public water supplies deliver a reliable service that is fully compliant with drinking water standards.

"Kildare County Council can now complete the contract formalities with the successful contractor so that construction work on the Srowland Water Treatment Plant can commence as soon as possible," the Minister concluded.

(BMcC/GK)