Avoca Sewerage Scheme

Uisce Éireann is delivering a project to upgrade the wastewater infrastructure in Avoca, Co. Wicklow

The project will bring benefits in terms of health, integrity of the environment and improved water quality for all. Upon completion the project will:

• Eliminate the discharge of untreated wastewater
• Protect the receiving waters and local environment
• Ensure compliance with the Wastewater Treatment Regulations

Uisce Éireann, working in partnership with Wicklow County Council, is progressing works on the Avoca Wastewater Treatment Plant Project to end the discharge of untreated wastewater into the Avoca River. 

Ward and Burke Construction Ltd is delivering the works on behalf of Uisce Éireann.

The existing Avoca wastewater treatment plant is located off Tower Avenue in Avoca, Co. Wicklow, and serves the agglomeration of Avoca Village. 

The discharge of untreated wastewater threatens water quality, detracts from the amenity value of the area, and does not comply with EU regulations relating to the treatment of wastewater.

Works to deliver the project include:

• Construction of a new wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) at Kilmagig South (beside the existing plant off Tower Avenue).
• Construction of a storm water storage tank.
• Construction of new outfall pipes to the Avoca River.
• Construction of new reed beds which will dewater treated sludge using solar evaporation. This will provide a sustainable and cost-effective solution for the long-term treatment of sludge from the wastewater.

What are the benefits of this project?

• Eliminating the discharge of raw sewage which will significantly improve the water quality in the Avoca River.
• Better health and integrity of the environment. 
• The new treatment plant has been sized to accommodate an increase in the local population. 
• The new wastewater treatment plant will enhance biodiversity at the site through habitat creation.
• Ensuring compliance with national and EU regulations relating to the treatment of wastewater. 
  

Works are expected to be completed in 2026.
We will endeavour to keep the local community and stakeholders informed as this essential project progresses.

This project in Avoca is one example of how Uisce Éireann is working in partnership with Wicklow County Council to protect our environment and support the local community to thrive. In Arklow, works are ongoing to construct a new wastewater treatment plant at North Quay, Ferrybank, which when complete in 2025 will also eliminate the discharge of raw sewage to the Avoca River.
 

Any person or business wishing to get a new connection to public wastewater collection infrastructure must contact Uisce Éireann. You can make a pre-connection enquiry in order to establish the feasibility of a connection to the Uisce Éireann network. Pre connection enquiry is a free service which allows you to find out whether a connection to the public network is possible or not. For more information, please see the Connections section of our website.

• We are constructing or have completed projects in 41 out of 50 locations where raw sewage was discharging from the public network into receiving waters. 

• To date we have built new WW infrastructure in 34 locations where no treatment existed before, and we have 7 under construction.  These 34 locations account for over 70% of the raw sewage being discharged. 

  Find out more about our progress to eliminate raw sewage discharges across the country.