Wastewater Treatment

Veolia, Irish Water sign upgrade contracts for key water treatment sites

Aug. 9, 2019

Projects form part of the €5.5B investment plan to improve water infrastructure.

IRELAND, AUG 9, 2019 -- Global leader in optimized resource management, Veolia, has been awarded two four year framework agreements that will deliver new water and wastewater infrastructure for Irish Water. Designed to provide major process upgrades and new plant across numerous sites, the works form part of a significant investment plan to enhance the performance and meet the increased demand from population growth, mitigate flood risk and maintain legislative compliance.

To transform water services across Ireland, Irish Water has developed a seven-year business plan with the overriding objective of delivering a quality service to customers using a €5.5bn investment plan to improve the water infrastructure. Initially starting with projects on 11 sites, Veolia’s work programs will contribute to this plan by providing significant new process solutions.

Extra value for money will be gained by using a bespoke ‘Early Contractor Involvement Target Cost’ model over the next four years, with a potential extension to eight years. Under the contract Veolia Water Ireland Limited will be responsible for delivering key water and wastewater infrastructure changes starting in 2019 initially with the water treatment plants at Lough Forbes, Lough Kinale and Smear. Wastewater and sewerage sites receiving upgrades include Falcarragh, Ballinacarrow, Ballymote, Collooney and Raphoe. This will benefit around 73,000 people in the Midlands and North West of Ireland and provide water infrastructure that meets the current and future needs of the local communities.

The works cover the design, project management and interim operation of a wide range of solutions for water and wastewater treatment to meet the European Union water directives, and provide for future expansion at the sites. Included in the work is new and upgraded water and wastewater treatment plants, control, sludge beds, sewers, pump upgrades, aeration and clarifiers, sludge thickening, odor control, chemical analysis facilities and other ancillary plant. The program will also gain from the application of Veolia’s Actiflo and Hybrid Biological Activated Sludge process technologies.

Commenting on the new contract with Irish Water, Joe Higgins, Director at Veolia Ireland said, “These strategic programs show how we continue working together with Irish Water to deliver essential infrastructure and meet the growing needs of communities in Ireland. The ECI contracting model will make implementation quicker and more effective, and by using our local capabilities, in conjunction with our global water experience, we will ensure that value for money is delivered for our customers."

The service will be delivered by Veolia’s local engineering teams and is expected to begin in spring 2019. The contract follows the successful water treatment improvements delivered by Veolia for Irish Water in Ballymore Eustace, Kingscourt, Upper Liffey Valley and Portarlington and ongoing projects in Osberstown, Ringsend and Vartry. For more information visit www.veolia.co.uk.