Coffey Northumbrian have started upgrade works on four wastewater treatment plants in Sligo.

The €16 million project will provide improvements for the Grange, Strandhill, Tubbercurry and Ballinafad plants. Their ageing infrastructures will be replaced with new treatment systems to improve water quality for the local area.

Cathaoirleach of Sligo County Council, Cllr Seamus Kilgannon, who turned the sod for the project today, 01 May, said: "Today is a red letter day for these four communities who will benefit greatly from this €16 million investment by Irish Water. I am delighted to be turning the sod for these much needed upgrade works and look forward to coming back to officially opening the four plants once they are fully commissioned."

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Commenting on the investment Colm Claffey, Infrastructure Programme Regional Lead, added: "These upgrade works will increase the treatment capacity of each of the plants to meet the current needs of the towns and to allow for future growth. The works will also ensure that wastewater is treated and discharged in compliance with the Urban Wastewater Treatment Regulations and with the conditions of the Wastewater Discharge Licence (WWDL) issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). It will also improve the water quality of nearby coastal areas, protecting bathing areas and the aquatic environment from pollution."

Work is expected to be completed by the end of 2019.

(CM/LM)