“Enabling communities to thrive” as essential wastewater project in Ahascragh is completed
Uisce Éireann is delighted to announce the completion of the Ahascragh Sewerage Scheme. The new wastewater treatment plant and sewerage infrastructure constructed as part of this scheme has put an end to the discharge of raw sewage into the Bunowen (Ahascragh) River.
The €3.5m investment, delivered on time and under budget, involved the construction of a new wastewater treatment plant which will serve a population equivalent of approximately 470. The new wastewater treatment plant and associated infrastructure will bring benefits to Ahascragh in terms of health, integrity of the environment and improved water quality for all.
Uisce Éireann's Paul Fallon paid tribute to the team who brought the significant project to life.
"We are delighted to have delivered this important project on behalf of the local community in Ahascragh, and the people of Galway."
"The Ahascragh Sewerage Scheme has ended the discharge of untreated wastewater into the Bunowen River. It will improve water quality in the Bunowen River and protect recreational waters for swimming, fishing, boating, and sightseeing; as well as protecting the integrity of the local environment. In addition to enhancing local amenities, the new wastewater infrastructure, which has been sized to accommodate future population growth, will provide a platform for social and economic development."
A new wastewater treatment plant was provided as part of this project. The works also involved the decommissioning of the existing and inadequate wastewater infrastructure, which was used to treat raw sewage. Storm water overflow improvement works were completed to ensure compliance under the relevant standards and upgrade works were also completed to the existing main pumping station including pumps, mechanical plant and the provision of a new storm water storage tank.
Construction began in January 2022 with Coffey Water Ltd delivering the project, on behalf of Uisce Éireann.
The completion of this project marks another major milestone in Uisce Éireann's work to end the unacceptable practice of discharging untreated sewage into our waterways and seas. Ahascragh is among 31 towns and villages around the country benefitting today from cleaner waters and enhanced amenities due to the construction of new treatment plants where none existed previously.
In 2014, there were 50 locations nationwide where raw sewage was being discharged without treatment. By the end of 2023, over 70% of raw sewage discharges by volume were eliminated through targeted investment in new sewerage infrastructure where none existed previously. We are on target to eliminate nearly all of the remainder by 2025, with an investment of over €750 million.