Uisce Éireann completes €15.5 million to upgrade Rathvilly Treatment Plant
Aerial shot of Rathvilly Water Treatment Plant courtesy of Uisce Éireann.
Uisce Éireann announced on Tuesday, 10 February that the multi-million-euro upgrades to Rathvilly Water Treatment Plant have been completed after two years of construction work.
More than 15,000 customers in the north of Carlow will benefit from the works which have removed the Carlow North Regional Water Supply from the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) list of vulnerable water supplies.
A report by the EPA in 2021 found there were what looked like small eels resting on top of filters that had not been replaced in 40 years in the treatment plant. The audit of the plant occurred after a waterborne parasite was detected in a water sample there earlier in the year.
The €15.5 million project to modernise and improve the water treatment process at the plant was announced by Uisce Éireann in conjunction with Carlow County Council in June 2022. Glanua Limited delivered the project on behalf of Uisce Éireann.
Pat Duggan, regional drinking water compliance manager at Uisce Éireann, said the upgrade “ensures ongoing compliance with drinking water regulations and significantly reduces the risk of future water quality issues for the communities supplied by the North Carlow Regional Water Supply.” “When people turn on their taps, they should have confidence that water will flow without disruption and that it is safe to drink,” said minister of state Jennifer Murnane O’Connor. “The completion of these works will bring an end to many of the frustrations people have experienced with their water supply.” She also highlighted the importance of upgraded infrastructure in supporting housing delivery and future growth across Carlow. “New houses need a reliable and consistent water supply, and this investment ensures we can provide that,” she said.
“Long term investment in infrastructure like this allows us to meet the needs of a growing population and ensures we can continue to build homes and support development across our communities.” Hugh Kennedy, Programme Manager at Uisce Éireann, said he was proud of the team effort in Rathvilly which meant that “the water kept flowing throughout.” “We would like to thank the local community for their support and patience while the work was underway,” he said.
