Waste Water Treatment Plants Officially Opened in Tramore and Dungarvan

Press Release

Waste Water Treatment Plants Officially Opened in Tramore and Dungarvan

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, John Gormley, T.D. officially opened two new sewerage schemes in County Waterford today.  The schemes at Dungarvan and Tramore, which include state of the art wastewater treatment plants, will be of major benefit to the county and the south east region, facilitating housing, commercial and tourist developments.  These schemes represent a total capital investment of €58 million in essential wastewater infrastructure.  Funding was provided by the Department of the Environment, Heritage & Local Government, EU Structural Funds through the National Development Plan and by the non-domestic sector in County Waterford.

The works involved modifications and extensions to the existing stormwater and wastewater sewer network in both towns.  In addition, a 7km twin rising main was constructed from Dungarvan to Ballinacourty along the former railway line, which has now been developed as a greenway, and a 2km sea outfall pipe was laid from Tramore wastewater treatment plant out into Tramore Bay.  This work was carried out by Roadbridge Ltd.

The sewerage schemes were designed to cater for the existing domestic, commercial and industrial needs of both towns as well as providing the necessary infrastructure to meet the needs of population growth for 20 years.  The wastewater treatment plants are capable of modular expansion should the need arise.  Both plants are now fully operational resulting in the elimination of untreated discharges into Dungarvan and Tramore Bays, enabling Waterford County Council to fulfil its obligations under EU Directives.

Dungarvan & Environs Sewerage Scheme:-
Two wastewater treatment plants were constructed as part of the Dungarvan scheme.  The plant at Ballinacourty has a population equivalent of 25,000 and the plant at Baile Na nGall in An Rinn Gaeltacht on the opposite side of Dungarvan Bay can cater for a population equivalent of 1,600.  The sea outfall from the Ballinacourty plant extends 750m beyond Ballinacourty Lighthouse at the mouth of the Bay.   The Dungarvan Sewerage Scheme was designed by Mott MacDonald Pettit Consulting Engineers.

Tramore Wastewater Treatment Plant
Constructed on a greenfield site at Crobally Upper, the Tramore Wastewater Treatment Plant was designed to treat effluent from a population equivalent of 20,000, thus ensuring it can cope with the seasonal nature of population fluctuations while also catering for the future expansion of the town.  The treated effluent will have no adverse impact on water quality in Tramore Bay and will enable Tramore Strand regain Blue Flag status which it has not held since 2001.   The Tramore Sewerage Scheme was designed by RPS Consulting Engineers.

To coincide with the opening of the Tramore Plant, Waterford County Council has produced an educational DVD detailing the history of the scheme, the treatment process and the environmental benefits.    Copies of the DVD can be obtained from the Water Services Section of Waterford County Council alternatively this movie can be viewed on our website here. 

All three wastewater treatment plants were constructed under a design, build and operate contract, procured in accordance with EU rules.   The successful tenderers, ABV Consortium, will operate the plants for a twenty year period.

Speaking at the official opening of the sewerage schemes, Mayor of County Waterford, Councillor Billy Kyne, said “the completion of the Dungarvan and Tramore sewerage schemes are key elements of the Council’s water services investment programme which, in addition to meeting the Council’s obligations in relation to EU Directives, will greatly enhance both towns’ attractiveness as locations for inward investment and as desirable places in which to live and work.”

For further information contact Mr. Pat McCarthy, Senior Engineer, Water Services, Waterford County Council – 058 22000 or e-mail: patmccarthy@waterfordcoco.ie