The improved plant will bring significant benefits to the town, enhancing the local environment and providing the platform for ongoing growth and development.
Local man and Minister with Responsibility for Defence, Paul Kehoe TD opened the plant alongside representatives from Irish Water, Wexford County Council and Cathaoirleach of the Enniscorthy Municipal district, Kathleen Codd-Nolan.
Irish Water's Infrastructure Programme Manager, Paul Fallon said: "This is a great day for Enniscorthy. On behalf of Irish Water I am delighted to mark the opening of the upgraded wastewater treatment plant here in Enniscorthy, by the river Slaney.
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"It is a very important project for us to have completed in terms of protecting the environmental quality of the river Slaney. The main driver for this project for Irish Water was compliance with the urban wastewater treatment directive and the EPA discharge license. This WWTP upgrade, together with a follow-on contract to upgrade the sewer network in the town, will ensure that Enniscorthy is fully complaint with the stringent requirements of the directive. It will also give a great boost to the social and economic development of the town."
Eamonn Hore, Director of Services for Wexford County Council, added: "This is a red letter day for Enniscorthy. I would very much like to welcome the early completion, some four months ahead of schedule of the €16.3m extension to the Enniscorthy wastewater treatment plant here in St John's beside the river Slaney.
"This top quality, new facility will ensure that all the wastewater from Enniscorthy town will be treated to the highest EU standards, meeting all the EPA license requirements and environmental regulations. It also ensures that the quality of the water itself in the river Slaney continues to improve to benefit all the river users and all the plant and animal life within the river. The significant increase in capacity from 16,000 population equivalent (PE) to 26,000 PE, a 62.5% increase will ensure the future population and economic growth of Enniscorthy town and surrounding areas."
