By Sean Moriarty

Works on the Kilcummin Sewerage Scheme remain on track despite “unforeseen complications" associated with deep excavations and ground conditions.

Uisce Éireann has confirmed to the Killarney Advertiser that the project will be completed by early 2024 as planned.

A spokesperson said the “short-term inconvenience will be overshadowed by the long-term benefits that the new pipeline will deliver” and, “when complete will accommodate future population growth, improve water quality in the River Deenagh and Lough Leane, and protect the environment and recreational waters”.

The road-closure at Coolcorcoran was lifted earlier this week and will be replaced by a manual stop-and-go system to complete that portion of the works.

“In March, we communicated that a three-week extension to the original road closure on Coolcorcoran Road was required, due to unforeseen complications associated with deep excavations and ground conditions,” an Uisce Éireann spokesperson told the Killarney Advertiser.

“Works on this section progressed slower than originally planned and for this unplanned inconvenience we apologise. To expediate delivery, additional resources were deployed on site to ensure the overall delivery timeframe remained on track.

This section was delayed after the contractor was forced to excavate deeper than originally planned – up to six metres in some sections - to allow for a gravity flow in the system.

“A gravity sewer network will run along the majority of the Kilcummin Road. For the sewage to successfully flow by gravity, without the need to consistently pump wastewater forward, the pipe needs to be installed at a gradient along its length. To achieve this, the pipe must be laid at specific depths along the entire pipeline route,” added the spokesperson.

“Due to the undulating land in this area, the detailed design required circa 25% of the full pipeline on the road to be constructed at depths greater than two metres with certain sections requiring six metre depths.”

CONNECTIONS

Some local councillors called for connections to be made to households who wish to join the scheme now or at a later date to be included in this construction phase.

“The scope of the Kilcummin Sewerage Scheme includes installation of a sewer network and construction of a pumping station. This does not include the provision of connection points or new wastewater connections to properties in the area along the route of the wastewater network. Uisce Éireann, as a utility regulated by the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities, is unable to offer free connections as per the approved Connections Charging Policy. Regarding making connection applications, as has been communicated since the commencement of project delivery, anyone who has paid for a connection will be connected to the scheme at the standard rate as part of the delivery of the pipeline project, regardless of the depth of the pipe.”

Additionally, an excavation has resulted in making a nearby wall unstable but Uisce Éireann have taken steps to safeguard the general public in this section of the works.

“Kerry County Council have advised Uisce Éireann of a potentially unstable wall along the Coolcorcoran Road. Given that the potentially unstable wall is located adjacent the Uisce Éireann work site, Kerry County Council requested Uisce Éireann to put in place traffic and pedestrian measures to ensure public safety until such time as the wall has been made safe,” said the spokesperson.