Scheme to take 20 tonnes of sewage out of harbour daily

Work started this week on a multi-million euro sewage project to end the daily discharge into Cork Harbour of 20 tonnes of raw sewage — the equivalent of three Olympic-size swimming pools.

Irish Water said building work has begun on a hi-tech waste water treatment plant at Shanbally, a key element of the €91m Cork Lower Harbour Main Drainage Project.

And it said work will start over the coming months on the construction of 14 new pumping stations, on the laying of some 30kms of new sewers, and a drilled crossing under the estuary to Cobh.