20 km
of large sewers
Water
Portlaoise Main Drainage Improvements Scheme
The aim of this project was to upgrade the existing wastewater treatment plant at Portlaoise, on behalf of Laois County Council, from 12,000 PE to 39,000 PE, with a new collection system and a new sludge treatment facility.
As Consulting Engineers for all stages of the Portlaoise Main Drainage Sewer Improvement Works Contract, RPS dealt with the preparation of the preliminary report and EIS, all the way through to the procurement stages to construction supervision and handover to Laois County Council.
The Contract involved laying approximately 20km of pipeline of varying diameter throughout the town and environs of Portlaoise. In order to upgrade the existing foul and storm sewers, pipeline routes were identified both through private and institutional properties as well as along roads and across railway lines.
The project was awarded the Engineers Ireland Environmental Infrastructure Award in November 2011.
Key details
Project name
Portlaoise Main Drainage Improvements Scheme
Client
Laois County Council
Location
Portlaoise, Ireland
Services provided
- Civil and Structural Engineering
- Waste management
- Health and safety
- Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
- Water services
- Geotechnical Engineering
- Planning
- Transport Engineering
- Project Communications
- Project Management
Challenge
Upgrading of the existing wastewater treatment plant at Portlaoise, County Laois from 12,000 PE to 39,000 PE, a new collection system and a new sludge treatment facility for the County through constant water ingress and non-cohesive soils.
Solution
Given that significant sections of the sewers were constructed within existing streets and roadways careful attention was given to traffic management, programming of works to avoid busy road use periods and minimising both the number and duration of road closures.
Ongoing communication continued during the construction stage with landowners, resident groups, Chamber of Commerce, traders and other effected parties to inform parties as to when and where works were planned and measures that were proposed to mitigate the impact of such works. RPS worked closely with the Local Authority and their resident engineer staff throughout to maintain effective communications with the general public and other interested parties.
Project statistics
5 km
of rehabilitated live sewers
2
Crossings of a major railway line
3
Major pumping stations constructed