Improvement work on a wastewater treatment plant in Cork has been completed and the facility is now officially opened.

Irish Water partnered with Cork County Council to upgrade the plant in Clonakilty.

The project primarily upgraded the Clonakilty Wastewater Treatment Plant as well as 13 other plants around the County, to the value of €7 million.

The project also included an upgrade to the main pumping station at Long Quay, providing additional capacity for storm water storage that will significantly reduce the frequency of overflow to Clonakilty Bay at Croppy Park.

One of the primary drivers for the project was the protection of Clonakilty Harbour, classified as a National Heritage Area, Special Area of Conservation, and a Special Protection Area. The protection of water quality in the bay to maintain Inchydoney as a Blue Flag Beach is a key benefit of this project for County Cork.

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Nereda Wastewater Technology facilitates the treatment of wastewater within a third of the footprint of conventional wastewater treatment processes.

It also reduces the volume of sludge produced and chemicals used during the operational phase of a plant, thus achieving a more environmentally and economically sustainable wastewater treatment solution.

Michael Tinsley, Wastewater Capital Programme Lead at Irish Water, said: "Irish Water is delighted to officially open the award-winning Clonakilty wastewater treatment plant, where state of the art technology has been used to increase the capacity of the plant.

"The newly upgraded plant will support ongoing economic development and job creation in Clonakilty, as well as Inchydoney, and Ring. The work carried by Irish Water means the area will continue to grow and its growth will be sustained by a modern and reliable wastewater treatment infrastructure."

(CD/JP)