€320 million has been invested in new and upgraded wastewater infrastructure in Ireland in 2014 and 2015, Irish Water has announced.

The firm also expects to invest more than €2 billion on wastewater infrastructure up to 2021.

Irish Water has completed new wastewater and upgraded treatment plants across the country in 2015 including those at Cavan, Clonakilty, Clifden, Dunmore East, Ardmore, Carrigtwohill, Leixlip, Lismore and Cheekpoint. Further investment will deliver new and upgraded treatment plants at Swords, Rush, Ringsend, Osberstown, Youghal, Cork Lower Harbour, Bundoran Killybegs, Convoy, Kinvara, Athea (Limerick), Belmullet and Tubercurry in 2016 and 2017.

-- Advertisement --

The EPA report also identifies 57 plants which have sufficient design capacity but have operational issues leading to non-compliance. Irish Water has made significant progress in the past year to address compliance issues in its existing plants without the need for additional significant investment. A process optimisation team was established in mid-2014 and already the operation of almost 300 wastewater treatment plants has been reviewed, on a priority basis and in consultation with the EPA. These site evaluations have produced 1,800 site-specific recommendations for improvements and identified more than 300 smaller investments that will enable Irish Water to treat wastewater more effectively.

(CD/LM)