An information meeting was held in Bandon last week to outline details of the major upgrade of town's water main and sewer network.
AN information meeting was held in Bandon last week to outline details of the major upgrade of town’s water main and sewer network.
Irish Water, which hosted the evening, said the works will improve the water supply and help protect the local environment.
Irish Water is investing €14m in this project to improve the quality and reliability of the town’s water supply, by replacing old water mains which have a history of frequent bursts and a high rate of leakage. It will also increase the capacity of the sewer network, aiming to alleviate sewer flooding and reduce discharges to the Bandon River.
‘This is a very important project that will have major long-term benefits for Bandon,’ said Seamus Glynn of Irish Water. ‘It involves replacing almost 10km of old water mains and increasing the capacity of the truck water main, as well as upgrading over 5km of sewers.’
He said that while there will be a significant amount of construction work involved, by carrying out these works as part of the same contract, Irish Water aims to minimise any disruption to the local community and complete it as quickly as possible. ‘We are committed to working in partnership with local businesses and residents, and will take on board any feedback we receive and provide regular updates to all stakeholders,’ said Mr Glynn.
A contract was recently signed with Ward and Burke Construction to carry out this work which is due to get underway in the coming weeks.
This scheme is in addition to the upgrade of the wastewater treatment plant in the town. These two projects represent a combined investment of €28m by Irish Water which the facility says, ‘will significantly improve the town’s wastewater treatment capacity, protect the local environment and facilitate development in the area.’
The project team will notify the local community in advance of planned works in their areas and provide contact details should they have any queries. ‘We will also work closely with the local community to minimise any potential disruption and with Cork County Council and An Garda Síochána to manage traffic while the works are underway,’ added Mr Glynn.
Ward and Burke Construction will have a full-time community liaison officer who will be engaging in communicating with all stakeholders on the contract and will be available to address any queries or concerns in relation to the works. They can be contacted at [email protected]