Limerick Wastewater Treatment Plant part of €12 million upgrade

Galbally Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) is to be upgraded as one of 12 projects announced for improvements last week. €20 million is to be invested over twelve wastewater treatment plants nationally, with Galbally the only Limerick project on the list. The WWT plant is on the outskirts of the village, not far from Moore Abbey. The plant upgrades are due to be completed in 2025.

An EPA report from June 2019 found the plant to be overloaded by over two and a half times its capacity, with a ‘ significant volume’ of localised sewage fungus extending for 10 metres downstream from the plant. According to the same report, the WWTP was designed for a population equivalent (PE) of 178, but in 2019 was receiving an influent load of 465 PE.

Last week Irish Water announced the upgrade plans, under Ireland’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan. According to the water services company, the newly upgraded plants will provide ‘additional treatment capacity to support housing and growth, improve water quality in rivers and safeguard water supplies.’

Limerick TD Patrick O’Donovan welcomed the news, saying that this would be a great opportunity for the community and village.

“I have for a long time called for this type of investment in our rural committees in Co. Limerick. These type of works will ensure that our towns and villages can grow into the future.”

Other Wastewater Treatment Plants that will see improvements are Grangemockler near Ninemilehouse in Tipperary, and Clonea Power near Carrick-on-Suir in Waterford.