Irish Water has published plans to build a new wastewater treatment plant in Arklow as part of a €60 million investment.

The Arklow Wastewater Treatment Plant (WwTP) project involves building a new facility to treat 36,000 population equivalent (PE), two interceptor sewer pipelines (along North and South Quay) to bring untreated wastewater to the proposed WwTP and a marine sea outfall pipe to safely discharge the treated wastewater effluent to the Irish Sea. The site for the proposed new wastewater treatment plant is at the Old Wallboard Factory, North Quay, Ferrybank, Arklow.

Irish Water said: "We have published notice of a planning application to An Bord Pleanála, in respect of a Strategic Infrastructure Development, to progress the Arklow Wastewater Treatment Plant Project.

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"We have also published notice of a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) for the project. The proposed new Wastewater Treatment Plant (WwTP) will end the current practice of discharging untreated wastewater into the Avoca River."

Subject to planning consent and procurement, construction is expected to begin by the end of 2019 and will take approximately three years to build.

Commenting on the planning application, John Joyce, Infrastructure Programme Regional Lead, said: "We are pleased to publish the planning application notice and Compulsory Purchase Order for the proposed Arklow Wastewater Treatment Plant to An Bord Pleanála.

"Since Irish Water took over the responsibility for water and wastewater services in January 2014, addressing the need to eliminate the discharge of raw sewage into the River Avoca has been a top priority. Progressing the planning application is a vital step in this process.

"The proposed new WwTP will have huge benefits for the residents and businesses in Arklow and the tourists that visit the area as it will improve the water quality in the River Avoca and enable future economic growth in the area. Irish Water will continue to keep the community up to date on the project."

A seven-week statutory public consultation on the scheme will commence on Thursday, 20 September.

(LM/MH)