Major water project completed to unlock growth and development in Ashbourne
As part of its commitment to develop and improve water and wastewater infrastructure across Ireland, and provide additional capacity to support growth and development, Uisce Éireann is delighted to announce the completion of a major water project in Ashbourne, bringing with it considerable benefits to the local community and economy.
The project, known locally as the Ashbourne Watermains Bottleneck Project, involved the construction of over 5km of new trunk water mains along the R135 and adjoining roads. The new pipeline will support future growth and development in Ashbourne by providing the necessary infrastructure needed to support the building of houses and schools, to attract new industry and allow companies to expand and grow. It has also significantly improved water supply resilience for existing homes and businesses by relacing problematic watermains and upgrading critical sections of the water supply network while ensuring current and peak demand can now be met without interruption. The project, which was carried out on behalf of Uisce Éireann by GMC Utilities Group and in partnership with Meath County Council, also included upgrades to the water pumping station at Rath Reservoir.
To mark the completion of this critical upgrade and associated benefits to the local community and economy, Uisce Éireann's Padraig Hanly met with Cathaoirleach of Meath County Council, Councillor Sean Drew, and Cathaoirleach of Ashbourne, Councillor Suzanne Jamal. Also in attendance was local councillor, Alan Tobin; Paula McCaul, CEO of County Meath Chamber of Commerce; representatives from Meath County Council and GMC Utilities Group, and Transition Year students from Ashbourne Community School. The school is actively involved in An Taisce's Green-Schools environmental education programme which promotes long-term, whole-school action for the environment.
Explaining what the upgrades will mean for the future development of Ashbourne, Padraig said, "The delivery of this significant project will support existing and future residential and commercial development in Ashbourne and is one of a number of projects being delivered by Uisce Éireann across Meath to enable growth and safeguard the water supply.
"We understand that the delivery of these important works to the underground water network caused disruption to the local community, so again, we would like to thank the people of Ashbourne for their patience and cooperation while we completed this vital project."
A number of other Uisce Éireann projects currently underway were also discussed including the construction of new state-of-the-art reservoirs in Enfield and Windmill Hill which along with the delivery of this project will improve security and resilience of the water supply for homes and businesses while supporting existing and future residential and commercial development across Meath.
Welcoming the upgrades, Councillor Drew added "The importance of providing a secure water supply for a thriving commuter town like Ashbourne cannot be underestimated. A water network that is fit for purpose is essential in order to support future growth and development and the successful completion of this project will do just that and is a testament to the collaboration and dedication to everyone involved in this project.
"I would like to commend Uisce Éireann and Meath County Council for completing this vital project as part of its commitment to the people of Ashbourne."
Pat Wickham, Senior Executive Engineer with Meath County Council, echoed the sentiments, saying, "As a result of the collaboration between Meath County Council and Uisce Éireann, this project has ensured Ashbourne is capable of meeting current and future demand, enabling the continued development of this growing town for years to come. This project is just one of a number of projects that Meath County Council in collaboration with Uisce Éireann is undertaking across Meath that will not only improve the water supply across the county but will also unlock opportunities for much needed growth and development.
"On behalf of Meath County Council, I would like to thank the local community for their support while we delivered this important work to provide a better water supply."
Paula McCaul, CEO of County Meath Chamber of Commerce, welcomed the improvements for the business community further adding, "A reliable, secure water supply is an integral factor for local business, particularly for our multinationals and hospitality sectors. As Ashbourne continues to develop, local economic growth will be underpinned by the work already undertaken and by the work that continues to be delivered. It is important that the capital expenditure planned for Ashbourne and also across Meath continues to be implemented effectively in order to ensure the long-term delivery of an efficient and clean water supply for our communities and businesses and we welcome the continued development of this key part of infrastructure by Uisce Éireann".
Uisce Éireann is responsible for the delivery of all public water and wastewater services in Ireland. We are committed to continuously upgrading and developing critical infrastructure to support the growth needed in housing and across our economy, while protecting the environment and safeguarding water supplies.
