Irish Water, Ireland's national water utility, has started construction of a new water treatment plant worth €40 million (US$44 million) to upgrade the water supply for over 70% of Cork City.
The existing Lee Road Water Treatment Plant (WTP) provides approximately 70% of Cork City’s total treated water supply. Water is taken from the River Lee and treated water is then pumped to reservoirs in the North West of the city through a system of rising mains. This project will provide much needed upgraded facilities to safeguard the water supply for Cork.
Drinking water treatment at the site began in 1879. Since then, there have been several upgrades to the facilities but no major upgrades since the 1950s. The Cork City Water Supply Scheme is included on the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Remedial Action List (RAL) which identifies water supplies that are in need of improvement.