Contractor Glan Agua has been appointed to upgrade and enhance the Ardfert Wastewater Treatment Plant, Co Kerry.

Irish Water is to invest €3.5 million in the project, in partnership with Kerry County Council.

The scheme will involve the replacement of the existing treatment plant, which was designed to cater for a population equivalent (PE) of 450, with a new plant capable of serving a population of 1,200.

The treatment plant will be located on a new greenfield site as the existing site is unsuitable to facilitate the expansion.

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The work is expected to commence in January and is estimated to take 18 months to complete. In addition to the construction of the treatment plant itself, the project will include a new 900mm gravity trunk sewer to link the existing foul collection system to the new plant and 400 metres of new storm sewers in Ardfert village. On completion of the project, the existing plant will be decommissioned, removed and the site fully restored.

Joe Kennedy, Irish Water's Wastewater Lead for the Southern Region, said: "The upgrade of the Wastewater Treatment Plant in Ardfert represents an investment of €3.5 million by Irish Water in what is a vital piece of infrastructure for Ardfert and the surrounding communities. We are delighted that the residents and businesses in Ardfert will now have a modern wastewater system capable of meeting their current and future needs whilst also protecting and maintaining the water quality in the River Tyshe."

(CD/LM)