Kilkenny County Council and Irish Water is to pump €21 million to upgrade the wastewater infrastructure in Kilkenny.

It is estimated €5m will be invested in upgrading the Kilkenny Regional Water Supply Scheme, which serves a population in excess of 27,000 people, including the associated businesses. The project will upgrade the water treatment facilities at Troyswood Water Treatment Plant and improve network interconnectivity to the Radestown supply area, providing security of supply to the city and environs.

Further investment in the Kilkenny Regional Water Supply Scheme is progressing with the planned construction of Outrath Reservoir, which has an estimated project cost of €1m.

Design works are concluding on the upgrading of the Inistioge Water Supply Scheme which serves over 4,000 people and businesses in Inistioge, Thomastown and the surrounding area. It is hoped that €5m will be invested in this project, which will supplement the water supply sources at Thomastown and provide 17km of new watermains, reservoirs and a pumping station. Once completed the new scheme will address the current water quality and supply issues.

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A further €0.2m will be invested in upgrading the Clonassy Water Treatment Plant on the Mooncoin Regional Water Supply Scheme which supplies over 9,000 customers in South Kilkenny. Works are progressing and are expected to be completed by July 2015.

Phase 1 of the Kilkenny Watermains Rehabilitation Contract was completed in 2014 and included a total investment of €1.83m. The project involved the replacement of 10km of watermains at various locations throughout the county.

Over €3m will also be invested in the replacement of watermains which will deliver significant improvements for customers in terms of water quality and supply. This will include an investment of €2m in Phase 2B of the Kilkenny Watermains Rehabilitation Contract involving 8.9km of watermains at Newrath, Graiguenemanagh, Kilkenny City (Leggettsrath Cottages), Piltown (Belline) and Knocktopher (Cherrymount to Knocktopher). A further €1.2m approximately will also be invested in the replacement of over 6.5km of watermains which will benefit customers in Goresbridge, Owning, Ballygriffin, Curraghmartin, Norelands and Stoneyford.

Upgraded Wastewater Infrastructure to Protect Local Environment

Irish Water and Kilkenny County Council are also progressing a number of wastewater infrastructure projects representing a significant investment of over €7m.

Approximately €3.3m is being invested to upgrade the wastewater treatment plants in Castlecomer, Urlingford and Stoneyford. Treatment of wastewater at existing plants serving these areas does not currently meet required environmental standards resulting in inadequately treated wastewater being discharged into the receiving waters. This is particularly important in Castlecomer and Stoneyford where the treated wastewater is discharged into the River Barrow and River Nore SAC (Special Area of Conservation).

The project which is expected to take 12 months to complete, will serve 1,300 existing households and businesses in these towns and the increased treatment capacity at each plant will allow for future development.

(CD/JP)