Irish Water has today confirmed it will invest €3 million in the Kingscourt Water Supply Scheme.

The works will ensure a safe and sustainable water supply for Kingscourt and surrounding rural areas including supply to Ballinaclose, Co Meath.

The contract to construct the new water treatment plant was signed on 6th May with Veolia Water Ireland. Works will commence in July of this year and are expected to be completed in one year.

The contract includes the construction of a new water treatment plant, complete with a storage reservoir at the existing Kingscourt Water Treatment Plant site. An off- site well will also be developed at Descart, Co Monaghan which will supply raw water to the new water treatment plant to provide security of supply to the water supply scheme.

Commenting, David McLoone, Irish Water’s Water Treatment Programmes Regional Lead North and West Region said: “This project will provide a modern treatment plant capable of serving the existing and future residential and commercial development needs of Kingscourt and the surrounding rural areas. As well as ensuring compliance with European and national drinking water regulations, it will ensure a safe and sustainable water supply for approximately 3,200 people, which is good news for the local area.”

Both the Kingscourt Water Supply Scheme and Ballinaclose Water Supply are currently on the EPA’s Remedial Action List.

Irish Water invested €340 million in improving water and wastewater services in 2014 and over €363 million during 2015. Irish Water plans to spend €532 million on water services in 2016. Capital investment in the region of €700 million per year is required for a sustained period of several decades to address the acknowledged deficiencies in the country’s water infrastructure. Works have been prioritised to address the most critical issues in line with commitments outlined in Irish Water’s recently published Business Plan. Delivery of the business plan will involve a €5.5bn investment in capital spending on drinking water and wastewater quality and capacity and new infrastructure up to 2021.