Wicklow Fine Gael Minister and General Election candidate Simon Harris attended the official opening of the new state of the art €5m water treatment facility which will provide a safe and secure water supply for Arklow and its surrounding areas.
This opening marks the successful completion of Arklow Water Supply Scheme Project, a €10m investment in Arklow’s water infrastructure over the past 10 years.
Speaking at the opening of the water treatment plant in Ballyduff, Arklow Minister Harris stated: “Today is a very important day for the town of Arklow, its people and business community.
“The investment of €10m for the provision of safe, secure drinking water for Arklow, is a very welcome and long awaited development for the town.
“Arklow can now depend on a safe and secure water supply for the years to come. A 60% increase in capacity of the treatment plant will support both future growth in population and business development in Akrlow.
“In addition to the €10m invested for the provision of safe, secure drinking water, Irish Water has committed to investing over €30m in a new wastewater treatment plant for the town. As one of 7 large towns where wastewater is discharged without treatment, Irish Waster has prioritised this much-needed development for Arklow.
“Following a period of public consultation, a preferred site for the location of the new plant has been selected and an Environmental Impact Assessment is currently underway, which is expected to take about 12 months to complete and which will form the basis of a planning application.
“Now that the recovery is underway, we much ensure that we keep it going by making prudent investments in our infrastructure. Now that Arklow has a reliable water supply, it will now become a more attractive location for business development and investment.
“I hope to be in a position to work with the community to drive future projects in Arklow and ensure that local residents feel the recovery in their daily lives,” concluded Minister Harris.
