Delivery of safe, secure and sustainable water for Wexford communities. 

By Dan Walsh

Uisce Éireann’s capital expenditure on critical water and wastewater infrastructure exceeded €1.2 billion last year, delivering improved drinking water quality to customers, reducing wastewater discharges to the environment and building resilience in Irish water supplies. Its Annual Report 2023, published yesterday (Wednesday), shows a range of key achievements for the organisation including assuming full responsibility for the delivery of all public water services in Ireland, transitioning to a centrally managed national utility.

The Uisce Éireann report shows significant progress in delivery of safe, secure and sustainable water for Wexford communities. Across Wexford network management, Find & Fix, and Leakage Reduction Works are underway as well as significant investment in water and wastewater infrastructure. 
Works are underway for a €19 million upgrade of the Enniscorthy Regional Water Supply Scheme to provide a more reliable resilient water supply across the town. This project is supported by ongoing works to upgrade aged areas of the water network such as Pearse Road and St. Johns Villas. 
“We’re also making steady progress to upgrade the Creagh Water Treatment Plant Upgrade to benefit over 7,000 customers in Gorey. Similarly, work is forging ahead on the Newtown Water Treatment Plant expected for completion in 2025,” says the Report. 
Work is underway to upgrade Kilmallock Bridge Water Treatment Plant which will be complete by the end of this year. Leakage Reduction Programme works were recently completed in Duncannon and Redmondstown, while the Mayglass (Fardystown) Raw Water Project is ongoing to increase supply capacity for South Wexford. Directive. Works to eliminate raw sewage discharges were completed across 10 sites including Kilmore Quay

On January 1, 2023, Irish Water transitioned to Uisce Éireann and became Ireland’s new standalone water utility. A key focus was establishing the supports and processes to enable the smooth transfer of Local Authority Water Services staff and enabling the successful integration of all employees in the new shared organisation. This ongoing work is vital to fully deliver the benefits of a national utility model with strong local teams delivering in and for communities throughout the country.