Uisce Éireann has broken ground on a €16 million modernisation of the Rossadrehid Water Treatment Plant in west Tipperary, aiming to deliver a safer, more dependable water supply across the Galtee region.

The utility said construction has commenced on the latest phase of its investment programme in County Tipperary's water infrastructure. The Rossadrehid plant, which draws from the River Muskry in the Galtee Mountains and sits above the Glen of Aherlow, supplies thousands of customers from Emly in the west to Cashel in the east, as well as multiple villages in between.

Uisce Éireann noted the Galtee supply has been vulnerable due to the age of the treatment plant and the scale of the network, with more than 300 km of pipelines transporting treated water across challenging terrain. A strategic plan is now in place to upgrade critical infrastructure to provide customers with a consistent, high-quality supply they can rely on.

The works at Rossadrehid will deliver more robust and advanced treatment, laying the groundwork for improved reliability throughout the system.

Welcoming the investment, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne, TD, said: "This major upgrade of the water treatment plant will make a real difference to daily life for people in the Galtee region of west Tipperary by safeguarding public health, enhancing water quality, and ensuring a dependable supply of water for homes, schools, community services, and local businesses.

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"It will in the longer term, help to unlock opportunities for housing, business expansion, and wider community development.

"As a Government we have invested record levels in much-needed water infrastructure. Crucially, this type of investment reflects a commitment to providing a safe and reliable water supply for current and future generations while at the same time unlocking services for the wider Galtee region."

Commenting on the project, Uisce Éireann Programme Manager Conor Williams said: "This upgrade represents another major investment in the region's water infrastructure and a long-term commitment to improving water quality and reliability across Tipperary. The enhanced treatment facilities will improve the drinking water quality for homes and businesses in the area ensuring continued delivery of a safe and reliable water supply.' Ahead of the works, long-serving site caretaker Ailbe Grace—who has worked at the plant since 1981 and succeeded his father, caretaker since the facility opened in 1951—welcomed the plans:

"I was born and reared in the old house that's on site here at the plant. When I started working here 45 years ago, I had a good idea of how the site worked before that because I used to give my father a hand when he was working it.

"These planned improvements will really modernise the plant. The last big upgrade came in 1999 when we upgraded the treated water reservoir from about two hundred thousand gallons to two million gallons, so it will be great to see it upgraded even further."

The upgrade will focus on significantly enhancing on-site filtration, introducing state-of-the-art control and monitoring across each treatment stage, integrating renewable energy technology, and improving buildings and facilities.

Glanua Ltd is delivering the works on behalf of Uisce Éireann.

The Rossadrehid project forms part of Uisce Éireann's wider multi-million euro investment across County Tipperary, with recent completions in Nenagh, Thurles, Roscrea, Littleton, Horse & Jockey, Upperchurch, Glengar and Cappawhite, and ongoing upgrades benefiting Clonmel, Tipperary Town, Templetouhy, Two Mile Borris, Carrick on Suir, Cahir, Goatenbridge and surrounding areas.