Water quality for sailors, swimmers, surfers and anglers off the south Connemara harbour of An Spidéal is expected to improve due to the commissioning of its first waste water treatment plant.
Uisce Éireann was joined by local representatives who saw first-hand the state-of-the-art treatment being provided for wastewater in the picturesque village, and they discussed the significant benefits in terms of protecting the environment and improving water quality in the bay for swimming, surfing, fishing and boating.
“Not only has the new treatment plant eliminated the discharge of raw sewage, but it is an enabler for housing and will support economic growth and development in the area,” Uisce Eireann, which built the plant, has said.
An Spidéal wastewater treatment plant
Uisce Éireann’s Paul Fallon has paid tribute to the team involved and said it was fitting to be able to mark the end of the year with a “celebration” in An Spidéal.
“Eliminating the discharge of raw sewage into Galway Bay has always been a priority for Uisce Éireann, and we are proud to be ending this practice, safeguarding the local environment and enhancing tourism opportunities for this beautiful part of the country,” Fallon said.
“We say a big thank you to the local community, including Udarás na Gaeltachta, Spiddal Craft and Design Studios, Danú Media, Stiúideo Cuan Teo as well as Scoil Éinne for their ongoing support and patience throughout the delivery of this vital project,” he said.
Galway County Council Cathaoirleach Cllr Liam Carroll spoke of his pride at seeing the plant up and running.
He commended the team at Uisce Éireann and Galway County Council and described it as “ a vital piece of infrastructure for the locality”.
The €4m project includes the new wastewater treatment plant for a population equivalent of up to 1,000, a below-ground pump station, new sewer pipelines to divert untreated wastewater to the new pumping station and onto the new wastewater treatment plant, and the reuse of the existing outfall pipe to safely discharge treated wastewater to Galway Bay in compliance with regulatory standards.
Mott MacDonald and Coffey Water Limited completed the work for Uisce Éireann.
The State agency said that it marked another major milestone in its work to “end the unacceptable practice of discharging untreated sewage into our waterways and seas”.
It said An Spidéal is “among 28 towns and villages around the country benefiting today from cleaner waters and enhanced amenities due to the construction of new treatment plants where none existed previously”.
There are currently 11 more locations under construction including Ahascragh in Co Galway, it said.
“This means that over 70% of all raw sewage discharges nationwide have now been eliminated, with the majority of the remainder set to end by 2025,” it said.
