Pictured is Minister Paul Kehoe, Cllr Pip Breen, Cathaoirleach of Gorey Council and Paul Fallon of Irish Water showcasing the €7.2 million upgraded wastewater treatment plant serving all of Gorey and Courtown in Co. Wexford. This marks a critical investment by Irish Water in essential wastewater infrastructure in Co. Wexford. This project extended the capacity of the existing plant from 12,000 to 35,000 PE (population equivalent) meaning future growth and economic development can be accommodated.
An investment of €7.2 million in a two year project that has the capacity to treat all waste water from the Courtown and Gorey areas of North Wexford has been completed with the official opening of the Gorey-Courtown Wastewater Treatment Plant.
The honour of opening the new facility fell to Paul Kehoe TD, Minister for State at the Departments of the Taoiseach and Defence with special responsibility for Defence.
Minister Kehoe said the official completion of all work on the Gorey-Courtown wastewater treatment plant marks a critical investment by Irish Water in essential wastewater infrastructure in Co. Wexford.
“It will bring economic and tourism benefits and also ensure we are protecting one of the county’s most important assets – the Blue Flag beach at Courtown,” said Minister Kehoe, who added: “I would like to take this opportunity to thank Irish Water and Wexford County Council for their work in delivering on this upgraded facility which will facilitate future growth and development.”
Minister Kehoe explained that prior to this Irish Water project, the previous wastewater treatment plant serving Gorey and Courtown was overloaded and unable to meet the required treatment standards or capacity required.
Waste water from Gorey is now pumped to the treatment plant at Courtown, and the old Gorey treatment plant has now been decommissioned. Existing buildings at Gorey are being converted to provide screening and storm water storage.
Cathaoirleach of Gorey Municipal District, Cllr Pip Breen noted that the completion of this project marks a significant upgrade to wastewater treatment facilities in Gorey and the surrounding areas.
“This development will have a positive effect on tourism and industry in the town and indeed in the whole of the North Wexford area and would like to congratulate and thank Irish Water and Wexford County Council for all their work on the project.”
Commenting at the event, Paul Fallon, Wastewater Capital Programme Lead, Irish Water said: “This is one of the many projects being progressed by Irish Water to support the tourism industry and future development in Co. Wexford. Already €10 million have been invested on this and the Taghmon waste water treatment schemes, and a further €32 million will be spent on wastewater projects and €21.5 million on drinking water projects over the coming years.”
Full story this week in THE GOREY ECHO.
