End of year for sewerage upgrades in Ballygar

UPGRADES to the wastewater treatment plants in Mountbellew and Ballygar are “anticipated” to start in the final quarter of this year, according to Uisce Éireann.

The likely cost of the works on the respective plants will be close to €40million, and contracts for both projects are due to be signed in the third quarter of this year.

Uisce Éireann have said that planning permission for the upgrades to the Mountbellew wastewater treatment plant were initially given the green light by An Coimisiún Pleanála in August of 2022 before a fresh planning application was lodged.

“In 2025, Uisce Éireann submitted a new planning application for the additional works at the wastewater treatment plant to meet the Water Framework Directive (WFD) requirements, and the new Wastewater Discharge License (WWDL) Emission Limit Values (ELVs),” said a spokesperson for Uisce Éireann.

“Uisce Éireann is committed to the delivery of upgrades to the Mountbellew Wastewater Treatment Plant. The upgrade project is progressing through Uisce Éireann’s ECI Programme.”

The Ballygar sewerage scheme is at the tender award stage, after planning permission was granted in January of 2025.

“The Ballygar Sewerage Scheme project is currently at the tender award stage. The project will involve upgrades to the existing Ballygar Wastewater Treatment Plant and will increase the load capacity of the plant to cater for current and future population growth in Ballygar,” the Uisce Éireann spokesperson said.

Two separate housing developments, totalling 69 dwellings, were granted planning permission in Mountbellew earlier this year by Galway County Council.

A condition of planning permission was included in both decisions by local authority planners that none of the dwellings are to be occupied until the developments are connected to the upgraded Mountbellew wastewater treatment plant, unless otherwise agreed with the County Council.