Wastewater plant at Killeens to get €7.3m upgrade

Uisce Éireann is to invest €7.3m in the Killeens wastewater treatment plant upgrade north of Cork city.

The project is being delivered as part of Uisce Éireann’s small towns and villages growth programme and it will help to ensure population growth and unlock new opportunities for economic development in the area, the utility has said.

The project aims to improve the capacity of the existing sewers, improve performance, and reduce the risk of sewer flooding in the area, in compliance with Irish and EU legislation.

It will also look to improve the health and integrity of the environment and protect the water quality in the River Blarney and conservation habitats.

“Enabling Ireland’s growth and development is one of Uisce Éireann’s key priorities, so delivering this vital infrastructure project is great news,” said Uisce Éireann portfolio manager David Shalloo.

“By increasing the capacity of the wastewater treatment plant, we are ensuring that the town of Killeens can continue to thrive and expand sustainably, and we are proud to grow alongside it.”

The first stage of the project will involve the construction of a 1,100m-long rising main to the high point of the pipeline and a 1,793m-long gravity sewers main to the connection manhole.

These works will commence in the coming weeks.

Signage and traffic management will be in place during this time in the form of stop/go systems in order to carry out the works safely and efficiently.

The project will also involve the construction of a new pumping station to convey the current and future raw wastewater flows to the Cork city sewer network and the construction of a new storm holding tank and associated equipment.

Works are due to be completed in 2027.