I have received confirmation that Uisce Éireann, working in partnership with Galway County Council, will commence works to provide an upgrade to the sewer collection system for Athenry will commence in March. The new €13 million sewerage scheme will reduce the risk of sewer flooding and address the discharge of non-compliant sewer overflows into the river Clarin.

Once operational, it will also improve the capacity of the sewer network allowing for future population growth and supporting the social and economic development of Athenry and the surrounding area. It will also eliminate the need for individual sewerage treatment plants in existing housing estates and allow for the Taking in Charge of these estates by Galway County Council which is long overdue.
“I welcome this announcement by Irish Water as it signals a new beginning for the people of Athenry and delivering this project for the community. All new infrastructure has been sized to accommodate future population growth and the project will enhance the local environment and provide for development well into the future for Athenry”.

The scheme will ensure compliance with wastewater discharge regulations. It will also improve water quality in the river Clarin and protect recreational waters for fishing and sightseeing, as well as protecting the integrity of the local environment.
The infrastructure to be constructed as part of this scheme will include a new eastern collector sewer from the Cuirt Ard/Caheroyan Road junction to a new pumping station at Pairc na hAbhainn, and a rising main from this new pumping station to the Athenry Wastewater Treatment Plant. A new western collector sewer will also be constructed from Gort Mhaoilir/Small Raheen Estate to the Athenry Wastewater Treatment Plant, and a separate pipeline from North Gate Street to connect to the Eastern Collector sewer to allow the removal of an existing stormwater overflow at North Gate St. The main pumping station at Caheroyan will also be decommissioned as part of the works.
Works on the project are expected to commence in March, with the entirety of the project due for completion by the end of 2024. Local Contractors Coffey Construction Ltd have been appointed as main contractors to deliver this very important project.

Previously Uisce Éireann invested €5m to increase the capacity of the Athenry Wastewater Treatment Plant to 9,500 Population Equivalent (PE). These works were completed in June 2019.