Irish Water has teamed up with Wicklow County Council and contractors Arup to progress with the surveys needed to develop the Arklow Wastewater Treatment Plant (WwTP).

The project will end the current practice of discharging untreated wastewater into the Avoca River. The project represents an investment of over €30 million by Irish Water.

Arklow is one of seven large towns identified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as having no wastewater treatment. The practice of discharging untreated wastewater to the Avoca River is no longer acceptable and Irish Water intends to fix this problem through a strategic approach to the provision of wastewater treatment.

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Irish Water is now preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) with a view to submitting a planning application in early 2017 and is currently in discussions with An Bord Pleanála as to whether this project will be a strategic infrastructure development (SID).

Michael Tinsley, Asset Programmes Manager, said: "Irish Water is committed to providing a new Wastewater Treatment Plant to the people of Arklow as a key priority. We would like to thank all of those who took part in the previous two phases of public consultation on this project.

"Irish Water will further examine in detail, the issues raised during these consultation periods in preparing a planning application for this much needed project."

The proposed project will involve the construction of a Wastewater Treatment Plant for a population equivalent of 36,000 at the Old Wallboard Factory, North Quay, Ferrybank, which was the site option recommended by Irish Water in December 2015.

Interceptor sewer pipelines along the north and south quays will also be constructed to bring untreated wastewater to the plant and a marine outfall pipe will be constructed to safely discharge treated effluent to the Irish Sea.

(CD/JP)