Dunmore East and Ardmore Waste Water Treatment Facilities now operational; Facilities Part of €33 Million investment – Minister Coffey

Fine Gael Waterford Minister Paudie Coffey has said that he has welcomed the positive progress that has been made with the Dunmore East and Ardmore Waste Water Treatment facilities that have been completed and are now fully operational.  Minister Coffey said the delivery of these facilities is part of a €33 million investment package in County Waterford and will go a long way to ensuring that the both areas receive blue flag status for their beaches.

“Up until recently we had a wholly unacceptable situation where raw sewerage was being pumped out into our seas.  This was due to a complete lack of investment over many years due to the inadequate management of our water and waste water treatment infrastructure because of the lack of resources and investment.  Irish Water has complete responsibility for schemes such as these and Dunmore East and Ardmore are two examples of where Irish Water has made a positive contribution in ensuring clean safe bathing water.

“Blue flag status for both Ardmore and Dunmore East is critical to attracting visitors to both villages.  I am pleased that Irish Water has progressed these two projects in Waterford County and I am sure that both will benefit from having cleaner, safer bathing water for residents and tourists alike.

“Irish Water have also confirmed to me that works are on-going in several other locations in Waterford County namely; Ballyduff/Kilmeaden; Stradbally; Caoppoquin; Kilmacthomas; and Tallow and these works are expected to be completed by the 3^rd quarter of this year.  All of these schemes are being delivered as part of a €33 million wastewater investment package by Irish Water in County Waterford.  It is imperative that we have do not have raw sewerage entering out water system that poses a major health risk to people.

“Fianna Fail had no plan and still has no plan when it comes to investing our water network; they ignored investing in water infrastructure despite spending over €1 billion a year on deficient treatment plants that caused pollution in our water courses and beaches and water networks that leaked almost 50% of treated water into the ground.  It was not sustainable and this government grasped the issue and dealt with it and we are seeing tangible improvements already.”

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