Works commence at Troyswood Water Treatment Plant

03 December 2021

A little piece of history is being made in Kilkenny City at the moment as Glan Agua, the contractors delivering the Kilkenny Regional Water Supply Scheme project on behalf of Uisce Éireann roll onto site at Troyswood Water Treatment Plant to begin works. The works will see the decommissioning of ageing assets and deliver a 21st century water supply for the city which will benefit 28,000 people. 

Seán Twohig, Uisce Éireann's Asset Delivery Regional Lead and his colleagues from Kilkenny County Council have been waiting for this day for some time and now, all the planning and preparation is becoming a reality.

Seán Twohig is Uisce Éireann’s Asset Delivery Regional Lead; “We are delighted that works have commenced. These are very uncertain times we live in but it is vital that projects like these continue to be rolled out so that cities like Kilkenny can prosper. Currently, Kilkenny City and its environs are serviced by two separate water treatment plants at Troyswood and Radestown. The existing Radestown Water Treatment Plant provides for slow sand filtration followed by disinfection but is unable to remove Trihalomethanes (THM) precursors and is currently on the EPA’s Remedial Action (RAL) list. The existing Troyswood Water Treatment Plant also requires a significant upgrade to provide robust water treatment facilities.

“In addition, the raw water intake at Troyswood is also inaccessible in periods of flooding which causes a lot of issues. The existing treatment plants also have inadequate capacity to cater for future growth in Kilkenny City and its environs so Uisce Éireann is extremely happy to finally bring this project to the fore. This project will benefit communities and businesses for generations to come, so it is something to be positive about.” 

Uisce Éireann and Kilkenny County Council work collaboratively to ensure communities and businesses around the county receive the best quality water supplied to their taps on a daily basis but the work is often challenging as the network and assets are ageing and can be problematic.

The €30m investment will take 2 ½ years to complete. The upgrading and increase in capacity at the treatment plant at Troyswood will equip the plant to then become the primary water treatment plant facility for Kilkenny City. A new 2.9 km watermain from Troyswood to the Radestown site will connect to the existing service reservoirs and enable the Radestown plant to be decommissioned. Homes and businesses need not worry however, as the works are being carried out, water supply will continue to flow.

Councillor Fidelis Doherty, Cathaoirleach of Kilkenny County Council was also delighted with the announcement; “In September, we heard the announcement that Glan Aqua were awarded the contract to upgrade Kilkenny City’s water supply. Now, works have commenced and this is fantastic news for the City. It will increase water capacity and ensure high quality water supply for future growth of housing and businesses over the next 40 years. This will include current planned housing developments in the Breagagh Valley (West) and Loughmacask (North) of the City, the re-development of the former Brewery site the Abbey Quarter in the City Centre and business parks adjacent to the Kilkenny Ring Road.”

Eamon Gallen, Uisce Éireann's General Manager echoed the thoughts of Cathaoirleach Doherty; "The Kilkenny Regional Water Supply Scheme illustrates Uisce Éireann's commitment to providing the key infrastructure in Ireland to promote social and economic development. This project will also ensure that the water supply is removed from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Remedial Action List (RAL) and that the commuities and businesses who will benefit from the works will enjoy a more robust and secure water supply into the future."

John Hurley, Kilkenny Chamber, CEO, is acutely aware of the importance of a robust water supply for businesses; “As I mentioned in September when the contract was awarded to Glan Agua, this is an initiative of huge importance for Kilkenny. Infrastructure projects of this type provide an essential platform and service for businesses to thrive and to prosper and will place Kilkenny head and shoulders above competitors in relation to attracting business. Furthermore, the additional capacity will allow essential housing to be built which will cater for social and economic development for generations to come. I look forward to hearing of the progress and the months and years to come.”

Uisce Éireann continues to work currently, with our local authority partners, contractors and others to safeguard the health and well-being of staff and the public and to ensure the continuity of drinking water and wastewater services.

Uisce Éireann’s customer care helpline is open 24/7 and customers can call us on 1800 278 278. Customers can also contact us on Twitter @IWCare with any queries.