DISCHARGE of raw sewage into the River Fergus and Shannon Estuary is to end when the construction of the Clarecastle Sewerage Scheme is completed.
Both Irish Water and Clare County Council are working in partnership to deliver the scheme. The project will involve the design and construction of new below-ground infrastructure at the site of the existing Quay Road Pump Station, and a new rising main pipeline along Quay Road, Barrack Street and the Ennis Road that will transfer sewage from Quay Road Pumping Station for treatment at the existing Clareabbey Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Shareridge have been appointed by Irish Water as the contractor for the works which are due to commence in the coming months. The scheme “should be well advanced by the end of the year,” Clare TD, Joe Carey (FG) maintained.
Project Delivery Lead for Irish Water, Seamus Glynn stated, “Wastewater from the public sewer network in Clarecastle is currently discharged untreated into the River Fergus and the Shannon Estuary. The discharge of untreated wastewater is unacceptable, threatens water quality and detracts from the amenity value of the area”.
He continued, “Once completed, the Clarecastle Sewerage Scheme will improve the water quality in the River Fergus in compliance with national and EU regulations relating to the treatment of wastewater, and will enhance the environmental amenity of the Clarecastle area. We will be sure to keep the local community informed regarding traffic management as this essential project progresses”.
Any person or business wishing to get a new connection to public wastewater collection infrastructure must contact Irish Water.
Other projects in Clare to progress wastewater infrastructure include Liscannor and Kilrush where works are already underway. Works are also planned to end the discharge of raw sewage in, Ballyvaughan and Kilkee.
Deputy Carey believed the local area would be significantly enhanced with households and businesses able to connect to the public wastewater collection infrastructure. “Having campaigned for several years to secure a new sewerage scheme in Clarecastle, I am delighted that plans are already well advanced for a major upgrade of the Quay Road Pump Station to transfer sewage for treatment at the Clareabbey wastewater plant,” he said.
