Irish Water is set to begin sewer surveys across Kilkenny, Wexford, Waterford City and Dungarvan to help develop Drainage Area Plans.

The utility is investing €4 million for the plans, which will help to improve the performance of the wastewater networks, protect the environment and facilitate social and economic development over the coming years in these regions.

The survey works are underway in all four regions, with contractors McAllister Bros, McBreen Environmental and RPS Environmental Management Limited on hand to conduct the work.

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CCTV will be utilised to survey the sewers, followed by mapping and inspecting manholes and monitoring the wastewater and rainwater flows in the network.

The survey results will inform the Drainage Area Plans for each of the different regions.

Alan Morrissey, Capital Programmes Regional Lead at Irish Water, said: "This work is part of Irish Water's commitment to protecting Ireland’s waterways and ensuring that the wastewater infrastructure is in place to support population growth and economic development. Much of the sewer network is in poor condition due to its age and decades of under-investment. In addition, only a small portion of it has been accurately mapped and assessed to determine its condition.

"Data gathered from this project will allow us to improve the wastewater treatment network in Kilkenny City by identifying the areas most urgently in need of upgrading and allowing us to plan our investment so that we can meet the needs of these communities now and into the future."

(CM/MH)