'Critical' multi-million euro Portlaoise sewage works upgrade in pipeline

A planning application is being made for a ‘critical’ multimillion euro upgrade for Portlaoise’s Waste Water Treatment Plant.  

The upgrade is being planned in order to deal with increasing demand in the town and surrounding areas as Portlaoise continues to grow. 

Irish Water/Uisce Éireann announced its intention to apply for planning permission to carry out work at the site of the existing waste water plant on the Ridge Road in Portlaoise. 

“Uisce Éireann is pleased to confirm that it will be submitting a planning application for a multimillion-euro upgrade of Portlaoise Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP), which will deliver a number of benefits to the local community,” Irish Water confirmed to Laois Live/ Leinster Express.  

“The current treatment plant serves a population equivalent to 39,000, and the remaining capacity of the WWTP is diminishing due to the growth of the surrounding area. This proposed critical upgrade will increase the capacity of the plant to an equivalent of 45,480 across Co Laois, which will facilitate the economic growth of Portlaoise and its surrounding areas.

This project will also ensure better health and integrity to the environment and ensure compliance with national and EU regulations relating to the treatment of wastewater.

We will continue to keep the community updated through our various channels on the progress of this project,” Irish Water stated. 

They have applied to Laois County Council for permission for the works in Portlaoise. 

“The proposed development consists of new wastewater treatment infrastructure and ancillary works, to be constructed on the existing Waste Water Treatment Plant (WwTP) site and on an area to the west of the existing site. 

The development will consist of: An additional stormwater storage tank, a new inlet works,  three primary settlement tanks,  three new aeration tanks, four new final settlement tanks and the decommissioning and demolishing of two existing final settlement tanks, two new tertiary filters, a sludge storage tank for primary sludge, an additional centrifuge for sludge dewatering,  minor chambers and sumps, odour control measures, solar PV panels, a Biodiversity Enhancement Area,”  

In late 2021, Irish Water announced its intention to create more capacity at the Portlaoise plant due to ever growing demand. 

At the time, Irish Water confirmed that it is working in partnership with Laois County Council to upgrade the Portlaoise Wastewater Treatment Plant on the Ridge Road.

"An upgrade is required to ensure there is increased capacity available for future social and economic growth in the area and to ensure compliance with national and EU legislation," Irish Water said in a statement.

The Murphy construction group completed the design and build expansion of the plant in 2009. It said the project delivered a capacity upgrade at the plant from 26,000 population equivalent to 39,000 population equivalent in addition to developing the site as a sludge hub for final processing of sludge from across the midlands region.

READ ALSO: New Russian Church Hall for Laois estate

In 2021, Murphy said that prior to this project development in the town of Portlaoise had been greatly hindered by a lack of adequate wastewater treatment infrastructure. Murphy had an agreement to continue to manage the facility until 2029.