LAN 40 No 6:Layout 1
18/05/2022
09:14
Page 31
Critical milestone reached in upgrade of Athlone Water Treatment Plant
Irish Water is delighted to announce that a critical milestone has been reached in the delivery of a safe, secure and sustainable water supply for Athlone with the completion of the first phase of a major upgrade of Athlone Water Treatment Plant. The ambitious overhaul of the treatment plant is progressing well and on schedule with works to supplement and support current infrastructure to ensure a more secure water supply to homes and businesses in the short term already completed. Irish Water, working in partnership with Westmeath County Council, began construction work on the plant in January 2021 to increase its capacity and meet the long term demands for Athlone into the future. Phase one of the project, which was recently completed, included the installation of a supplementary treatment stream together with new clarification, filtration and disinfection facilities. These works, combined with Irish Waterʼs intensive and ongoing campaign to reduce high levels of leakage across the town, has enabled the treatment plant to provide a more secure drinking water supply while crucially providing the headroom required to allow the commencement of Phase 2. Previously, the treatment plant could not meet peak demand for water in Athlone and surrounding areas. Speaking about the upgrade project, Martin Temple, Asset Delivery Lead for Irish Water, said: “Providing a safe and secure water supply for our customers in Athlone is a top priority for Irish Water. We are pleased to have completed the first phase of this major project on schedule and within budget despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and, most importantly, we have already delivered what is a critical improvement to the quality, resilience and robustness of the water supply for Athlone in the short term.
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