The economic success of the Cork Metropolitan Area has led to significant growth in Cork City and surrounding areas. The National Planning Framework envisages that Cork will become the fastest growing region in Ireland with a projected 50% to 60% population increase up to 2040.
As a result of this growth, the Wastewater infrastructure is challenged to keep pace with the increased demand for new serviced land needed for housing, commercial developments and industry.
The Draft Cork Wastewater Strategy aims to deliver a sustainable drainage strategy that will protect public health, safeguard our environment and facilitate growth in the Cork Metropolitan Area to 2080.
Uisce Éireann has commenced an 8-week public consultation on the draft Cork Wastewater Strategy and associated environmental reports, Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and Natura Impact Statement (NIS).
What are we consulting on now?
The Cork Wastewater Strategy identified 11 strategic wastewater sub catchments, based on infrastructure performance and characteristics including locations, within the Cork Metropolitan Area. This allowed us to take a more targeted approach, enabling us to plan effectively and address the specific needs, pressures, and challenges unique to each sub-catchment.
Following this, we examined how the 26 Wastewater Treatment Plants across the area operate within their respective sub-catchments. This analysis focused on identifying opportunities for optimisation.
Experts from different fields, engineering, ecology, hydrology, and more, worked together through workshops and ongoing discussions to explore all the options.
This collaborative effort formed the foundation of the Optioneering and Strategy Development process, to identify the most effective drainage and treatment solutions for Cork across three key planning horizons: 2030 (short-term), 2025 (medium-term), and 2080 (long-term).
The process followed a structured five-stage methodology:
Identify site-specific needs
Generate a comprehensive set of options
Screen options for technical and environmental feasibility
Assess shortlisted options using Multi-Criteria Assessment
Identify the preferred strategy based on modelling and stakeholder input
This rigorous approach led to the creation of the recommended approach – a strategic framework that integrates the most suitable solutions for the Cork Metropolitan Area as a whole. It identifies preferred measures to enhance treatment capacity, drainage efficiency, and overall network performance.
The draft strategy recommends decommissioning 16 smaller wastewater treatment plants, with wastewater redirected to larger, centralised facilities. This approach will enhance operational efficiency, improve environmental outcomes, and strengthen system resilience by consolidating resources and infrastructure. The recommended solutions will be advanced as individual projects and prioritised across the three planning horizons. Each project will undergo its own environmental assessment, where necessary, which may include Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Appropriate Assessment (AA), ensuring compliance with environmental regulations and alignment with sustainability goals.
Kileens WwTP: Decommission; connected to Cork City Network
North Cobh WwTP: Decommission; connected to Cobh Network
Watergrasshill WwTP: Decommission, wastewater transferred to Glanmire Bridge and treated in Carrigrennan TwTP.
Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrades
Population Equivalent (PE) is a unit that represents the average amount of biodegradable organic matter produced by one person in a day, used to design and size wastewater treatment systems. Capacity upgrades are recommended at the following Wastewater Treatment Plants:
Courtbrack with a design capacity of 850PE by 2080
Dripsey with a design capacity of 850PE by 2080
Cloyne with a design capacity of 5,500PE by 2080
Whitegate-Aghada with a design capacity of 4,500PE by 2080
Lisgoold South with a design capacity of 2,400PE by 2080
Cork Lower Harbour with a design capacity of 98,000PE by 2080
Carrigrennan with a design capacity of 558,000PE by 2080
Midleton with a design capacity of 22,500PE by 2080
Upgrade Carrigtwohill WwTP: With a final capacity of 47,000PE by 2080. Includes new outfall extension to Lough Mahon.
New Ballincollig WwTP: Constructed to replace existing facility with a final capacity of 72,000PE. A new outfall will be constructed for the new WwTP, however the discharge location of the outfall will remain the same as the existing WwTP.
More information is provided in section 12 of the draft strategy.
by Post: Cork Wastewater Strategy, Uisce Éireann, PO Box 860, South City Delivery Office, Cork City
Consultation questions
We've identified the need to decommission 16 Wastewater Treatment Plant, upgrade 9 and relocate 1 as part of the recommended approach. Do you have any feedback on the methodology used to determine this approach?
Section 10 of the draft Cork Wastewater Strategy outlines the methodology used to identify and evaluate potential options for strategic drainage and wastewater treatment solutions in the Cork Metropolitan Area. We invite your feedback on this approach. Do you feel the methodology is robust, transparent, and appropriate for identifying the most feasible and effective solutions?
Is there anything additional information you feel that Uisce Éireann should consider in development the Draft Strategy?
Section 12 of the draft Cork Wastewater Strategy outlines the Recommended Approach for the Cork Metropolitan Area, including proposals for its implementation. We welcome your views on these proposals. Do you have any comments or suggestions regarding how the strategy is planned to be delivered?
Do you have any comments on the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Environmental Report and Natura Impact Statement (NIS) which accompany the draft Cork Wastewater Strategy?
Are there any additional comments you would like to share regarding the draft Cork Wastewater Strategy?
Draft Cork Wastewater Strategy
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Draft Cork Wastewater Strategy
The economic success of the Cork Metropolitan Area has led to significant growth in Cork City and surrounding areas. The National Planning Framework envisages that Cork will become the fastest growing region in Ireland with a projected 50% to 60% population increase up to 2040.
As a result of this growth, the Wastewater infrastructure is challenged to keep pace with the increased demand for new serviced land needed for housing, commercial developments and industry.
The Draft Cork Wastewater Strategy aims to deliver a sustainable drainage strategy that will protect public health, safeguard our environment and facilitate growth in the Cork Metropolitan Area to 2080.
Uisce Éireann has commenced an 8-week public consultation on the draft Cork Wastewater Strategy and associated environmental reports, Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and Natura Impact Statement (NIS).
What are we consulting on now?
The Cork Wastewater Strategy identified 11 strategic wastewater sub catchments, based on infrastructure performance and characteristics including locations, within the Cork Metropolitan Area. This allowed us to take a more targeted approach, enabling us to plan effectively and address the specific needs, pressures, and challenges unique to each sub-catchment.
Following this, we examined how the 26 Wastewater Treatment Plants across the area operate within their respective sub-catchments. This analysis focused on identifying opportunities for optimisation.
Experts from different fields, engineering, ecology, hydrology, and more, worked together through workshops and ongoing discussions to explore all the options.
This collaborative effort formed the foundation of the Optioneering and Strategy Development process, to identify the most effective drainage and treatment solutions for Cork across three key planning horizons: 2030 (short-term), 2025 (medium-term), and 2080 (long-term).
The process followed a structured five-stage methodology:
This rigorous approach led to the creation of the recommended approach – a strategic framework that integrates the most suitable solutions for the Cork Metropolitan Area as a whole. It identifies preferred measures to enhance treatment capacity, drainage efficiency, and overall network performance.
The draft strategy recommends decommissioning 16 smaller wastewater treatment plants, with wastewater redirected to larger, centralised facilities. This approach will enhance operational efficiency, improve environmental outcomes, and strengthen system resilience by consolidating resources and infrastructure. The recommended solutions will be advanced as individual projects and prioritised across the three planning horizons. Each project will undergo its own environmental assessment, where necessary, which may include Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Appropriate Assessment (AA), ensuring compliance with environmental regulations and alignment with sustainability goals.
Summary of the Recommended Approach
Wastewater Treatment Plant (WwTP) Decommissions & Transfers
Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrades
More information is provided in section 12 of the draft strategy.
How to Make a Submission
Submissions can be made online HERE
or
by Email: CWS@water.ie
or
by Post: Cork Wastewater Strategy, Uisce Éireann, PO Box 860, South City Delivery Office, Cork City
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