By 2017, raw sewage will no longer be discharged into Kinvara Bay, following completion of a wastewater treatment plant and sewer network for the area, which will cost €5.1 million.
Contracts have been signed to start work on the treatment plant, marine outfall pipe, and upgrading of the sewer network, in early 2016, with a view to being completed in early 2017. A separate contract to upgrade the town’s sewer network will be signed in coming weeks.
The developments have been welcomed by Fine Gael Galway East TD Paul Connaughton, who said it was "an important day for the region" as it will "end the discharging of raw sewage into Kinvara Bay". He added that "bathing in Kinvara Bay will be made much safer by this work and will make the area more attractive to tourists".
Dep Connaughton is also urging Irish Water to "look favourably on proposals to extend the sewerage" scheme to cover a number of housing developments in Kinvara, in order to ensure that the town has "an integrated and fully operational wastewater system".
