Project Outline

Under this design, build and operate (DBO) project Murphy delivered new and upgraded infrastructure at portfolio of sites across South Tipperary. The project encompasses plants at twelve separate locations and comprised both new builds and upgrades to existing facilities.

The newly constructed plants were:

• Carrick-on-Suir (11,000 PE).
• Ballyporeen (1,000 PE).
• Ardfinnan (1,100 PE).
• Clogheen (1,000 PE).
• Ballyclerihan (2,000 PE).

Existing plants which were refurbished and upgraded included:

• Clonmel (80,000 PE).
• Cashel (9,000 PE).
• Cahir (5,000 PE).
• Tipperary (9,800 PE).
• Fethard (3,000 PE).
• Kilsheelan (1,000 PE).
• Killenaule (1,200 PE).

Key Challenges

A key project driver shared by many of the plants is the continued protection of the Lower River Suir. Designated as a Natura 2000 site and a Special Area of Conservation, the Murphy operations teams continuously works to protect this water resource and area of outstanding natural beauty.

Project Delivery & Innovations

• Murphy assumed operational responsibility for all existing facilities upon commencement of the design-build works in 2004 and have been responsible for their safe operation ever since.
• The project was delivered without any interruption to operational throughput or reduction in the performance.

Key Facts 

• The plants which go to make up the South Tipperary Grouped WWTS serve a combined population equivalent of 125,100.
• In 2010 Murphy delivered a further €5 million expansion to Clonmel Wastewater Treatment Plant with the installation of a new thermal sludge dryer.