Til en pris av 139 millioner euro, byggingen av Arklowavløpsrenseanleggprosjektet i Wicklow fylke ble offisielt startet. Når den er ferdig, vil den slutte å slippe ut ubehandlet kloakk til Avoca-elven og vil gi betydelige fordeler for å beskytte miljøet og forbedre kvaliteten på Avoca-elven - som bidrar til fiske, vannsport og marint liv.
The Arklow sewage treatment plant project was first proposed in 1988 and stalled due to fierce differences among citizens over site selection. The project aims to provide sewage treatment capacity equivalent to up to 36000 people for the old wallboard factory site in ferrybank in the town; Two intercepted sewage pipelines (along the north and South docks) deliver untreated wastewater to the plant and a discharge pipe to safely discharge the treated sewage to the Irish sea. Darragh O'Brien, Minister of housing, local government and heritage, said the project would benefit the future development and economic growth of Arklow town and housing.
Brian Sheehan, head of asset delivery of Irish water, said, "since 2014, Irish water has built new sewage treatment infrastructure for 16 towns and villages. Half of the untreated sewage entering Irish waterways has now been eliminated, and we are working to eliminate most of the untreated sewage discharge by 2025." Arklow sewage treatment plant project is undertaken by ward Burke water Co., Ltd. and will be put into use in 2025.