Irish Water is investing over €10 million to carry out three projects in Co Sligo.

The work includes pipe replacement and repairs, leak detection and repairs and the upgrade of wastewater treatment plants.

The projects will improve water quality and supply to customers as well as ensuring the safe treatment of wastewater in accordance with Irish and EU regulations.

The Sligo City Water Main Rehabilitation and Pearse Road Sewer Network is progressing on target for completion of all pipelines and temporary reinstatement works by May 2018, final reinstatement will be due for completion by December 2018. The project involves the replacement and rehabilitation of approximately 8.7km of ageing water mains, the installation of 1.5km of foul and storm sewers in the Pearse Road area and the replacement of all service connections including any lead services encountered.

Working in partnership with Sligo County Council, Irish Water appointed Ward and Burke Construction Limited to carry out the project. Works are currently progressing along Teeling Street and John Street with southbound and northbound diversions in place. Diversions are all advertised on approach roads to Sligo.

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In September Irish Water will be recommencing the O'Connell Street sewer rehabilitation works that were suspended last November due to unforeseen circumstances.

The works will improve the condition of the existing combined sewer culvert that runs north to south along the street.

The majority of the project was completed last year with 510 metres of water main rehabilitated as well as the replacement of water main customer connections.

The remaining works include for the installation of the sewer liner on O'Connell Street. The final works will commence in September with an expected completion date in November. Further details including traffic and pedestrian management plans for these works will be issued to the local community and the media once available in the coming weeks.

Working in consultation with Sligo County Council Irish Water agreed to wait until the autumn to recommence these works so as not to disrupt the main shopping thoroughfare during the busy summer months. Full details of the works and the date for recommencement will be advertised towards the end of the summer.

The third major project for Co Sligo is the upgrading of four wastewater treatment plants in Tubbercurry, Grange, Strandhill and Ballinafad which will be carried out as part of one contract.

Irish Water intends to upgrade the existing wastewater treatment plants to provide for the modern, efficient and economically sustainable treatment of wastewater to ensure compliance with the Urban Waste Water Treatment Regulations and EPA licences.

The main objective of the scheme is to provide immediate and long term improvement and expansion of the existing treatment plants.

The design, surveying, planning and complex tendering phase has been completed and is going through internal processes before it proceeds to stage three which is the contract award and build stage. Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPOs) were advertised through the usual channels and an oral hearing with An Bord Pleanala was completed on 02 June 2017.

(CD/MH)