Massive Cork Harbour clean-up reaches completion

The €144m engineering project will end the discharge of thousands of tonnes of raw sewage into Cork harbour

It marks a key milestone in the Cork Lower Harbour Main Drainage Project which began in 2015 when the equivalent of 40,000 wheelie bins of raw sewage from around 20,000 homes and businesses in the lower harbour region was being discharged into the harbour every day.File Picture

The Taoiseach has heralded in a new era of recreation, tourism and economic benefits for Cork Harbour following the completion of a massive €144m engineering project to end the discharge of thousands of tonnes of raw sewage into its waters.

Micheál Martin was speaking as he opened the Cork Dockyard pumping station this morning which will transfer raw sewage from thousands of homes and businesses in Cobh town, via a network of pipes under the Lee estuary, for treatment at the Shanbally wastewater treatment plant on the southern side of what is the second-largest natural harbour in the world.