Major upgrades to wastewater and sewer system planned in Laois town

Uisce Éireann said the works are necessary to cater for the future growth of Portlaoise

Published 20th Aug 2026, 13:30 BST The site of the proposed upgrades and extension of the Borris Road Wastewater Pumping Station in Portlaoise. Uisce Éireann said the works are necessary to cater for the future growth of Portlaoise Sign up to our Laois Live newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know you can manage your profile, and explore all of the available newsletters from Laois Live within your account.

Uisce Éireann has applied for planning permission to carry out extensive upgrades to the wastewater and sewer system in Portlaoise.

The proposed works included in the planning application to Laois County Council seek to bring the existing infrastructure in Portlaoise up to Uisce Éireann’s standards and cater for the future growth of the area.

Uisce Éireann said that the catchment area has also been identified as an area of planned future development and growth, and should the planned developments proceed, the existing network would be under stress.

The proposed works will take place across a site measuring 0.563 hectares in Portlaoise.

The Borris Road Wastewater Pumping Station opposite St Mary’s CBS off the Borris Road is proposed to be upgraded and extended as well sections of the incoming gravity sewer network.

According to the planning documents, the existing wastewater pumping station is operational, but it does not have suitable capacity for the area and it is not capable of effectively carrying discharge from the Hermitage Wastewater Pumping Station and the Kilminchy (Private) Wastewater Pumping Station to relieve pressure on the existing network.

Aviation Authority announces flight restrictions over Electric Picnic The proposed works will help to relieve this and bring the network up to suitable working capacity by providing enhanced sewer pipework with increased capacity.

The existing gravity sewer is to be upsized immediately upstream of the pumping station and at the roundabout intersecting Collier’s Lane in the townland of Borris Great and Ballyroan .

A further gravity sewer is to be upgraded through an easement between Collier’s Lane and Colliers Way in Kilminchy and Ballyroan.

Alterations to the existing wastewater pumping station will include the construction of a new emergency storage tank and associated equipment including a vent stack, facilities, vehicle and maintenance access, overflow and return pipework with the existing wet well, ducting to existing control room and soft landscaping.

The proposed 24-hour emergency storage tank will provide a greater resilience in the event of a failure to the pumps.

A new 6 metre high ventilation stack will also be connected to the emergency storage tank to help mitigate and dissipate potential odours associated with the wastewater system.

On behalf of Uisce Éireann, Stantec Ireland Limited lodged the planning application for planning permission for a 10-year period.

Laois County Council are due to make their decision on the planning application by October 12.