Waterford City & County Council has welcomed the progress being made by Uisce Éireann on a major wasterwater project in Gaeltacht na nDéise.

When completed, both the new and upgraded infrastructure will bring significant benefits to the local community in terms of protecting the environment by improving water quality in Dungarvan Bay, a Special Area of Conservation (SAC), and significantly reducing the risk of sewer flooding to homes and businesses.

The project will also support the local fishing community by helping to protect the aquatic habitat of oysters and other shellfish to support production within the designated shellfish water.

Following detailed design works, a planning application has been submitted which includes an upgrade to the existing pumping station at An Mota, the construction of two additional pumping stations, 3km of new sewers and additional storm water storage to reduce the frequency of Storm Water Overflows (SWOs) into the bay.

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Commenting on the project David Shalloo, Programme Manager at Uisce Éireann, said: "We are delighted to be moving forward with this significant project on behalf of the local communities in Baile na nGall and surrounding areas. The provision of a reliable wastewater service in a manner that protects the natural environment is essential to the development of this beautiful part of Waterford."

David continued: "The new infrastructure will ensure that wastewater is adequately treated and meets the highest standards before being safely discharged into the marine environment, giving nature at sea the best opportunity to not only survive, but thrive."

The timeline for the commencement of works is subject to planning and statutory approvals, however, it is expected that construction will begin in early 2024. Further updates will be provided as the project progresses.

Uisce Éireann is responsible for delivering public drinking water and wastewater services for the people of Ireland. We are committed to enabling communities to thrive by continuously upgrading and developing critical infrastructure to support sustainable growth and development, providing safe drinking water, and enhancing the environment.