Works to begin next week on the Cobh Town Networks Contract- next step to eliminating raw sewage in Cork Lower Harbour

Cobh Town Wastewater will be collected in this sewer network and pumped via the estuary crossing to Shanbally Wastewater Treatment Plant for safe discharge to Cork Lower Harbour.

Works on the pipelines and pumping stations as part of the Cobh Town Networks Contract are planned to commence next week, 7 October 2019. This contract is part of the Cork Lower Harbour Main Drainage Project, which represents an investment of €144 million by Uisce Éireann, working in partnership with Cork County Council, to end the decades-long practice of discharging raw sewage directly into Cork Lower Harbour. When works on this contract are completed in 2021, the raw sewage from Cobh Town's public networks will be treated, completing the connection of 20,000 homes and businesses to the Cork Lower Harbour Main Drainage Project, protecting the environment, facilitating economic development and providing for a growing population.

Pumping stations and pipes

The Cobh Town Networks contract includes the construction of 5 pumping stations and approximately 7 km of sewer pipes required to end the practice of raw sewage discharging from 19 outfall pipes around Cobh Town, directly into Cork harbour.  Works will are expected to begin at 4 locations around Cobh in October, with construction of sewer pipes beginning in the West Beach/East Beach area of the town centre and the R624 at Ballynoe, while works commence on the pumping stations at Old Town Hall, Lynch's Quay and at Station Carpark. The works will take approximately 2 years to complete.

Farrans Sorensen Joint Venture, the contractor working on behalf of Uisce Éireann to deliver this project, has carefully planned these works in consultation with the local community. The programme of works takes into consideration the considerable feedback that we received from the Cobh Community throughout the planning of the works. This engagement will continue throughout the project, with information available below. We also have a full time community liaison officer dedicated to the project.

What is involved?

Déaglán Healy, Project manager for Cork Lower Harbour Main Drainage Project said "When we started construction of this project in 2015, the equivalent of 40,000 wheelie bins of raw sewage was discharging into the Harbour every day. We are now treating the equivalent of 30,000 of that 40,000 wheelie bins figure by completing the Shanbally Wastewater Treatment Plant and pipelines and pumping stations on the south side of the harbour so that wastewater from Ringaskiddy, Crosshaven, Carrigaline, Passage West and Monkstown is now being treated. Works will begin in October in Cobh Town. We are committed to working with the local community in Cobh to minimise the impact of these works. I would encourage Cobh residents and businesses to contact the project team and register for regular project updates at corklowerharbour@water.ie to help us keep you informed as we work together to clean up our harbour."

Having adequate wastewater treatment infrastructure is essential to safeguard the environment and to facilitate housing and commercial development. We would like to thank you for your patience and co-operation as we work together to Clean Up Our Harbour.

More information

For information on the project, information days and works information, please contact the project team at corklowerharbour@water.ie, or view the Cork Lower Harbour page on our website.