Wicklow County Council has received a planning application to develop a pipeline and additional structures for the transfer of treated drinking water from Vartry to Callowhill.

The new pipeline will secure the water supply to North Wicklow and South Dublin for the long-term and ensure the Vartry Water Supply Scheme continues to meet all drinking water standards.

Treated drinking water from the Vartry Water Treatment Plant provides drinking water for one of the most densely populated areas in the country. The supply area stretches from north Wicklow to south Dublin and serves more than 200,000 people.

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Irish Water confirmed the proposed works will include:

• A pumping station at the existing Vartry Water Treatment Plant

• Four kilometres of buried pipeline from Vartry to Callowhill

• A break pressure tank and a hydropower turbine at Callowhill to recover renewable energy from the pumped water

Geoff O'Sullivan, Project Manager with Irish Water said: "We are pleased to submit this planning application which is an important step in securing the drinking water to the Vartry Water Supply area of north Wicklow and south Dublin. The scheme is over 150 years old, has had no major upgrade since it was built and is now in need of urgent investment. This application is part of a €200 million investment in the scheme which will secure the drinking water supply for the area for decades to come."

(CD/LM)