Irish Water has announced that work on four long-awaited sewerage schemes in County Sligo will start this coming February.
Sixteen million euro is to be spent in upgrading the schemes in Grange, Strandhill, Tubbercurry and Ballinafad.
Irish Water says the upgrade works will increase the treatment capacity of each of the plants to meet current needs and to allow for future growth.
The works will also ensure that wastewater is treated and discharged in compliance with various regulations.
And it will also improve the quality of water in nearby coastal areas.
Coffey Northumbrian Limited will carry out the work, which is expected to last about two years.
Local communities will be notified in advance of works starting in each location.
In Strandhill, the works will include the upgrade of the existing Caravan Park pumping station.
Tubbercurry is currently in breach of European wastewater rules but the proposed works will rectify this.
Colm Claffey, of Irish Water, says it’s envisaged all four schemes will start at the same time.
News on the sewerage schemes has been widely welcomed by local politicians, including the Cathaoirleach of Sligo County Council, Cllr Seamus Kilgannon, of Fianna Fail, and the Mayor, Cllr Hubert Keaney, Fine Gael.
Cllr Keaney says it shows the level of investment now being put into Sligo by Irish Water.
Councillor Kilgannon says people in Grange, Tubbercurry, Ballinafad and Strandhill, have been waiting a long time for today’s announcement.
And he paid tribute to Sligo County Council and its Director of Services Tom Kilfeather for their work on the schemes.
