A joint venture of Cork based companies EPS Group and Sisk Construction was recently awarded the contract to design and build the 65,000 population equivalent wastewater treatment facility at Shanbally to serve the Cork lower harbour area. Following completion of construction in Q2 2017, EPS will further operate the facility for a period of up to nine years on behalf of Irish Water. The treatment facility, which forms part of the overall near €100 million investment by Irish Water in the lower harbour region, will treat sewage from Cobh, Carrigaline (including Crosshaven), Passagewest, Monkstown (including Glenbrook) and Ringaskiddy ( including Shanbally and Coolmore). The chosen treatment technology for the project is a process known as Nereda® and this facility in the lower harbour is only the third project under construction in Ireland or the UK that utilises Nereda®. EPS as the licensee for Nereda® in Ireland has a co-operation agreement with the global engineering consultancy, Royal Haskoning DHV, for the delivery of Nereda in Ireland. To date, the EPS/Royal Haskoning DHV partnership has successfully delivered a plant at Clonakilty in west Cork and are completing one in Carrigtwohill in Co Cork. The technology brings significant environmental and economic benefits to the lower harbour project and EPS/Sisk JV are fully focused on delivering a successful project for all stakeholders involved. Jim Palmer, technical director, EPS, said: "EPS/Sisk JV are delighted to be part of this overall strategic project which will bring significant environmental, social and economic benefit to the region and Cork in general. The joint venture team looks forward to working with Irish Water and Cork County Council in the successful delivery of the project." Pat Lucey, director of civil engineering, Sisk, added: "EPS and Sisk share a commitment to collaborative working with partners, clients and stakeholders for the benefit of the project and the wider community. It is exciting to be associated with this flagship project for the Cork area."