Uisce Éireann commencing €22m upgrade of water treatment plant in Cork
The planned new wastewater treatment plant in Whitegate.
A long-awaited €22m upgrade at the Whitegate Water Treatment Plant in Co Cork is due to commence, Uisce Éireann has announced.
The new upgrade will ensure a "safe, secure, and reliable" supply of drinking water to about 10,3000 people served by the Whitegate Water Supply.
The investment, which is being carried out in partnership with Cork County Council, will address risks to water quality by "providing enhanced treatment facilities" at a brand-new water treatment plant which will provide six million litres of water per day.
The new plant will be located on a site adjacent to the existing Kilva plant, which will be decommissioned.
Since early 2016 there have been repeated boil water notices issued to those on the Whitegate Water Supply Scheme.
It provides water to Whitegate, Aghada, Cloyne, Saleen, Ballycotton, Ballinacurra, and parts of Midleton.
The supply is coming through highly silted underground channels. Conventional ultraviolet treatment to kill bacteria cannot pass through the silt.
As a result, Uisce Éireann has, on numerous occasions, had to issue boil water notices after consultations with the HSE.
This in turn has left homes and businesses reliant on bottled water for extended periods of time.
Commenting on the benefits of the project, programme manager for Uisce Éireann Hugh Kennedy said: “The issues with water quality are well-known to the people of Whitegate and surrounding areas who have had to endure persistent boil water notices.
"This new and improved infrastructure will address these issues and enable the community to enjoy a reliable and safe water supply into the future.”
However, he went on to remind customers the current boil water notice "remains in place."
"We recognise the significant inconvenience this causes to impacted customers and would like to thank everyone for their patience and ongoing support while we advance this critical project for the benefit of the community," he added.
Facilities at the new water treatment plant will include the construction of a 450,000-litre raw water balancing tank; a clear water tank; a new coagulation, flocculation, and clarification system; a new filtration system; and ultraviolet disinfection.
Once complete, the project will ensure Whitegate’s water supply remains compliant with national and EU drinking water regulations.
The works are being carried out by Glanua on behalf of Uisce Éireann and are due for completion in 2026.
