Major wastewater plant upgrades in Ballyjamesduff and Virginia will make a lasting and positive impact on both communities are well on track to be completed by early 2027.
The upgrades to the two plants, situated just ten kilometers apart, represent a combined investment of €58 million into the wastewater infrastructure of Cavan. Once complete, the upgraded plants will support the wastewater needs of approximately 12,000 people across Ballyjamesduff and Virginia, paving the way for new housing and business development in both towns.
As well as increasing capacity, the upgrade works will ensure that wastewater treated at both plants will be compliant with all EU and EPA treatment and discharge directives. An investment of approximately €33 million is being made in the Virginia plant upgrade, with a further €25 million being invested in Ballyjamesduff.
Cllr TP O'Reilly said it's great to see the much needed wastewater plant coming to fruition, "the development is about future proofing the area and this is not a small scale job, a lot of work has been done to get the project in Virginia to this stage and it's great to see it on target and I hope to see the plant up and running in the next 12 months. "
Meanwhile Cllr Trevor Smith says the progression is the wastewater treatment plants will allow for more housing to be built in the area, "It will allow the town of Ballyjamesduff expand, at the moment we are being prevented when it comes to construction and this will allow the development of housing and commercial premisses in the town."
Progress is moving swiftly in Ballyjamesduff, with teams expertly managing the unique challenges of a long, narrow site and the complexities of delivering major upgrade works within a live wastewater treatment environment. As part of the project approximately 1.5 kilometres of new underground pipe and 9.5km of cable have already been laid, alongside nearly 200 tonnes of steel.
A short drive down the R194, construction works in Virginia are progressing steadily, marking another important step in Uisce Éireann's commitment to supporting local communities. A key feature of the works is the installation of a new pumping station west of the River Blackwater, requiring advanced technology to tunnel beneath the riverbed and connect it to the main plant on the east side.
Another major element is the new outfall, positioned approximately 300 metres into Lough Ramor. Specialist contractors carried out detailed lakebed surveys over the summer, and construction is now well underway. On the ground, the scale of progress is clear: over 175 tonnes of steel have been used and more than 10,000 cubic metres of earth excavated to date.
Patrick Greene, Portfolio Manager at Uisce Éireann, highlighted the positive momentum of the upgrade works in Ballyjamesduff and Virginia. "The upgrade works at the wastewater plants in Ballyjamesduff and Virginia represent significant investment into the region and are evidence of Uisce Éireann's commitment to delivering for our customers and communities in this region," said Patrick.
"Works at the two plants are continuing on schedule, and we anticipate that both will be complete and ready for commissioning by early 2027. We want to thank our contractors in Veolia for their hard work so far, and to thank the communities of Ballyjamesduff and Virginia for their patience and understanding while these significant works are ongoing."
