The €114m Athlone Main Drainage Scheme is one of Uisce Éireann largest projects to date. The project involved the construction of new pumping stations at Golden Island and Coosan West, and almost 3km of new large trunk sewers, including tunnelled crossings under the River Shannon using trenchless technology.
Now tunnelling has been completed, reinstatement works are under way across the County Westmeath town.
At Golden Island, the pumping station shaft construction works are fully complete, with mechanical and electrical installations progressing. The control building for the pumping station is also substantially complete, with only final fit-out works remaining.
The Coosan West Pumping Station is also now in operation, providing enhanced wastewater management capacity for the area.
The project remains on schedule for completion this year, with flows set to be turned into the new sewer network by October. The existing under-performing pumping stations and pipework will be decommissioned. Uisce Éireann (formerly Irish Water) says combined sewer overflows have been eliminated at six locations along the River Shannon and replaced by two new stormwater overflows designed to meet current licensing standards, improving water quality, and protecting the environment.
Cross-connection works between the existing and the new network are ongoing at various locations around Athlone.
Uisce Éireann portfolio manager Eunan Canavan said he was grateful to the community for their continued patience as the project reached the final stages.
“The Athlone Main Drainage Scheme will significantly improve the capacity and resilience of the wastewater infrastructure, ensuring Athlone is well prepared for future growth and development, while also reducing the risk of sewer flooding, improving the water quality in the River Shannon and supporting a cleaner, healthier environment,” he said.
