New Sewerage Scheme nears completion
April 30, 2010The multi-million euro Mullingar Sewerage Improvement Scheme is entering its final stages, with completion expected in August 2010.
The scheme, which is valued at over EUR70 million, is aimed at improving existing infrastructure and with the purpose of providing capacity that is essential for the future development of Mullingar. The county town has experienced a population boom in the past decade, and given that this trend is set to continue for the foreseeable future, Westmeath County Council is committed to upgrading and further expanding the waste water treatment plant to augment the sewerage network within the town through the implementation of this scheme.
The investment of important infrastructure such as the Mullingar Sewerage Improvement Scheme plays an important part in promoting Mullingar's status as a Gateway Town as designated in the National Spatial Strategy.
The key features of the scheme are the upgrading and extension of the existing waste water treatment plant and the upgrading/upsizing, where necessary, of the existing sewer pipes for Mullingar and environs with the purpose of, and to allow for future development of the town and its environs.
There are two major contractors on the scheme - Veolia Water Ireland Ltd and Pierse Contracting Ltd. In May 2008 Veolia Water, which is the world's largest environmental services company, was awarded the EUR24.9 million contract to upgrade and expand the Clonmore Waste Water Treatment Plant and Lynn Road Pumping Station, while Pierse Contracting was awarded the entire pipe-laying contract.
The official sod turning ceremony for the Mullingar Sewerage Improvement Scheme was performed on September 1 2008 by the then chairman of Westmeath County Council Joe Whelan, marking the commencement of this critical infrastructual investment in Mullingar. Having completed work on the new Lynn Road Pumping Station, Veolia Water is now in the process of upgrading and expanding the Clonmore Waste Water Treatment Plant.
"We're well into phase two of the project at this stage," explains Veolia's project manager John O'Meara.
"We commenced the first phase in June 2008 which involved the upgrade and expansion of the Lynn Road Pumping Station, and we're now working on the Clonmore Waste Water Treatment Plant. We're working in partnership with Bam Civil (formerly Ascon) and everything is on time and on budget. All going well, weather permits, phase two will be completed in August."
John, who hails from Killenaule in Co. Tipperary, says his company was delighted to have been awarded such a prestigious contract.
"This was a great contract to get and over the course of it, we have built up an excellent working relationship with Westmeath County Council and Bam Civil. Westmeath County Council has plans to carry out similar improvements in Athlone, and we hope to tender for that when the time comes. It's currently at the consultant stage, though," he says.
The newly-upgraded Lynn Road Pumping Station is already accepting flows, while the interim upgrade of the inlet works and the Clonmore Waste Water Treatment Plant to 30,000 population equivalent has been completed. Included in this was the construction of a new storm water holding tank and upgrading the inlet screens to the plant. This tank will act as a buffer during storm events and temporarily hold storm water that would otherwise discharge to the River Brosna. After a storm abates, the water in this tank will be treated.
Work continues at Clonmore on the upgrade to the Waste Water Treatment Plant; this includes the construction of various tanks required as well as the ancillary building and pipefitting. Installation/commissioning work commenced last October at the Sludge Drying facility, while work continues on upgrading the existing buildings on site. Throughout the construction period, the Plant has continued to meet or exceed the treated effluent quality requirements approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Up to 200 staff have been involved in the improvement work.
"When work on the Clonmore Waste Water Treatment Plant is fully complete, it will have the capacity to treat a population of 55,000. This project is being carried out with the future in mind," John notes.
"We have had to keep the existing plant running while upgrading it. The plant capacity will be doubled and there will be minimal waste from it as it will be dried and turned into fertilizer for agricultural use. It will be environmentally friendly and we are proud to contribute to this achievement for Westmeath County Council."
The second component of the Mullingar Sewerage Improvement Scheme is the construction of the Interceptor Sewer. Work on this contract, which is being carried out by Pierse Contracting and is valued at EUR11. 4 million , is also at an advanced stage.
To date, all the pipe-laying works in the Lynn Road, Clonmore Road, Sunday's Well/Lynnbury Terrace, Town Park, Austin Friar's Street, Royal Canal, Springfield and Robinstown areas have been completed.
Operating in 64 countries, Veolia Water is the world's leading water management company and is part of global environmental services provider, Veolia Environmental. The company provides water and waste water services to almost 1 million people in the Republic of Ireland. Headquartered in Kilkenny, Veolia have over 80 staff operating more than 40 plants for local authorities. Veolia's expertise allows to them to ensure that their clients' assets are maintained and operated in accordance with the Performance Management System as set out by the Water Services National Training Group.
Veolia's scope of services, which extend to all aspects of the Design, Build and Operate (DBO) model, include: drinking water, process water, waste water, sludge management, recycling to agriculture, non-domestic water metering and billing. They leverage the experience, stability and geographical coverage of their various 20-year operating contracts to offer present and future customers a cost-effective, outsourcing solution.
A proud Tipp man, John O'Meara believes Liam Sheedy's charges will be going all out to stop arch-rivals Kilkenny for completing an unprecedented five-in-a-row of All-Ireland hurling successes this year.
"Everything is geared towards winning the All-Ireland and if we can beat Kilkenny along the way, it will be all the sweeter," says John, who is a club-mate of Tipperary stars Declan Fanning and Pat Kerwick.
"We were very close to beating them last year and if we can up it another notch and learn from last year's experience, we'll be there or thereabouts." Tweet
