Sludge is a by-product of both Water and Wastewater treatment.  Waterford County Council have developed a strategy for managing sludges in the coming years.  The strategy envisages sludges from the various wastewater treatment plants being collected at two satellite centres, one in the east of the county and one in the west.  Dewatered sludges from these two centres and from Tramore will be transported to a central hub treatment facility where the end-product bio solids produced will be suitable for sustainable reuse in agriculture.  The hub centre was commissioned in 2007, and the western satellite will be provided in conjunction with the Grouped Villages Sewerage Scheme contracts.  Proposals for the eastern satellite will be developed in 2008.  Provision of €2.895m is included in the Department of the Environment’s Water Services Investment Programme to implement the strategy.