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THE contract has been awarded for a €30m upgrade of the largest public water supply in Kerry. Kerry County Council has announced that following a tendering process, Glan Agua Ltd has been approved to complete the project which will see a major upgrade of the county’s Central Regional Water Supply Scheme.

The awarding of the contract follows the announcement by Irish Water in March of an investment of €30m in the Kerry Central Regional Water Supply Scheme – including the development of a new water treatment plant at Lough Guitane near Killarney. The new scheme will ensure a safer and more secure drinking water supply for 62,000 residents – almost half of the population of the entire county.

The Kerry Central Regional Water Supply Scheme provides water to nine water supply zones, all of which are currently on the Environmental Protection Agency’s Remedial Action List (RAL) arising from the absence of a robust treatment system, something which will now addressed through the new scheme.

“The new facility will provide 51 million litres of water per day to the communities which it serves across Kerry. This is absolutely essential investment for the benefit of the health and welfare of the people of County Kerry,” said John Breen, Director of Water Services with Kerry County Council.

The contract involved is for DBO (Design, Build, Operate) with work underway on the design of the new water plant. It is anticipated the work on the ground will begin in the autumn with completion expected within two years.

The Cathaoirleach of Kerry County Council, Cllr Pat McCarthy, has warmly welcomed the awarding of the contract, saying that the improved water supply will be of enormous benefit the county and the provision of a clean and safe drinking water supply to all those who live in and visit the county.