Clara Water Treatment Plant Upgrade

Uisce Éireann has completed a major upgrade of the Clara Water Treatment Plant in County Offaly.

Uisce Éireann, working in partnership with Offaly County Council, has recently completed works to upgrade the Clara Water Treatment Plant. The water produced in Clara supplies the wider community of Clara, Ballycumber, Ferbane, Doon, Belmont, Shannonharbour and Shannonbridge and is called the Clara/Ferbane Regional Water Supply.

The Clara/Ferbane Regional Water Supply was included on the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Remedial Action List (RAL), which identifies water supplies that need improvement.

All public water supplies need to be disinfected to make sure the water is safe to drink. Chlorine is used to disinfect drinking water. An effect of this can be that compounds called trihalomethanes (THMs) can form over time. This happens when chlorine reacts with natural organic matter in the water. Surface water, like the Gageborough River, which is the source of this water supply, has a large amount of organic matter in it. Because of this, THMs can form in supply.

This project involved upgrading the existing processes at the water treatment plant to prevent the formation of THMs and ensure the continued supply of safe drinking water. The works will improve drinking water quality, reliability and resilience of the water supply for the community.

Uisce Éireann completed this project in partnership with Offaly County Council through our Delivery Contractor Veolia Water Ireland.

This project involved the following works:

• Upgrading the coagulation and flocculation process, including new flocculation tank and chemical dosing upgrades.
• Upgrading the sand filter controls and backwash process.
• Upgrading the disinfection (chlorination) process and final water pH correction.
• Upgrading the used wash water and sludge treatment process.
• Upgrade the monitoring and instrumentation systems.
• Upgrading the plant control, telemetry and automation.

• Provide a safer more reliable water supply for over 7,300 customers.
• Improve the drinking water quality.
• Ensure compliance with current drinking water quality regulations.
• Address current challenges with the disinfection processes and remove the water supply from the EPA's Remedial Action List.