Athlone Main Drainage Scheme

Uisce Éireann has completed the delivery of the €114 million Athlone Main Drainage Scheme.

The project has transformed the wastewater infrastructure in the Midland’s town, to improve water quality and protect the River Shannon, while also supporting sustainable growth in the Athlone for decades to come.

The scheme reduces the risk of sewer overflows into the River Shannon and ensures compliance with Irish and EU wastewater legislation. Most importantly, it delivers lasting benefits for the local community — improving water quality, enhancing public health, supporting recreation, tourism and biodiversity along one of Ireland’s most important waterways.

There were 18 storm water overflows within the Athlone wastewater network, causing spills of untreated wastewater into the River Shannon, which is designated as a sensitive area.  Frequent out of sewer flooding in the town was also an issue due to insufficient capacity within the collection system. Additionally, the system did not have capacity to accommodate future population growth.

As a result, Athlone Town was one of the locations cited in a European Court Judgement Case against the State for failure to comply with the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (UWWTD) regarding the discharge of untreated stormwater into sensitive areas.

This project was designed to ensure compliance with the Irish and European legislation, improve and protect the River Shannon while support a growing population.

This project included:

• Constructing new pumping stations in Golden Island and Coosan West.  
• Installing 3km of new sewer pipework.  
• Decommissioning five existing pumping stations.   
• Decommissioning six existing stormwater overflows.  
• Constructing two new stormwater overflows designed to Uisce Éireann standards.  
• Connecting the new and existing sewer network together. 

The upgraded wastewater treatment infrastructure will now bring benefits to the area including:

• Reduce the risk of overflows and out of sewer flooding through the provision of increased sewer sizes.
• Improve the water quality in the River Shannon.
• Increase the capacity of the sewer network allowing for development and population growth in Athlone.
• Ensure compliance with Irish and EU wastewater legislation.

The project commenced in January 2023 and was completed in December 2025. The Athlone Main Drainage Scheme will officially be opened by James Browne, TD, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage on 30 April 2026. Ward and Burke carried out the works on Uisce Éireann’s behalf.