Ian Walsh, Programme Manager, Uisce Éireann, with students Graham Grennan and Tirana Baggot from Ard Scoil Chiaráin Naofa, helping to plant native Irish trees to mark the completion of the €9.7 million upgrade to the Clara water treatment plant. Photo: Naoise Culhane.

Local students plant trees to mark completion of €9.7m Clara treatment plant upgrade

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Secondary school students from Ard Scoil Chiaráin Naofa took part in a tree planting ceremony on Tuesday to mark the recent completion of the €9.7 million upgrade to Clara's water treatment plant.

The Clara water treatment plant supplies the town and surrounding areas such as Ferbane, Ballycumber, Doon, Belmont, Shannon Harbour and Shannonbridge.

Uisce Éireann said the completion of the upgrade was marked with the planting of native Irish trees trees by Ard Scoil Chiaráin Naofa students Graham Grennan and Tirana Baggot.

Also in attendance was the programme manager for the project, Ian Walsh, Offaly TDs Tony Mc Cormack and John Clendennen, water treatment plant caretakers Pius Larkin and Ronan Galvin, representatives from Offaly County Council, and Veolia Water Ireland, the contractors who delivered the works on behalf of Uisce Éireann.

From left: Ian Walsh, Programme Manager, Uisce Éireann; student Graham Grennan; TDs John Clendennen and Tony McCormack, and student Tirana Baggot from Ard Scoil Chiaráin Naofa helping to plant native Irish trees to mark the completion of the €9.7 million upgrade to the Clara water treatment plant. Photo: Naoise Culhane.

In a statement, Uisce Éireann said the €9.7 million investment in the plant upgrade would benefit over 7,700 customers from Clara to Clonmacnoise "by ensuring a safe and reliable water supply for homes and businesses." The Clara-area water water supply was removed from the Environmental Protection Agency's 'at risk' list as a result of the upgrade project.

"I'm delighted to be here today to see firsthand how this upgrade will benefit the community," said Ian Walsh, Programme Manager at Uisce Éireann. "Delivering this project was essential to enhancing the security and resilience of the community's water supply."

He added: "On behalf of Uisce Éireann, I would like to thank everybody involved for their hard work and collaboration in delivering this project. It was a team effort that led to the successful completion of the works, allowing for the removal of the supply from the EPA's Remedial Action List."

Also welcoming the upgrades, Frank Moran, Cathaoirleach, Tullamore Municipal District, said: "I would like to commend Uisce Éireann and all involved for completing this project as part of its commitment to the people of Offaly. This improvement will be crucial in shaping the local area's future."

The work at the treatment plant involved installing a new flocculation unit, upgrading filtration and disinfection, and also installing central controls and automation systems.

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