€32M WEST pollution project launched in Fermanagh
The WEST project will deliver four low-carbon wastewater treatment upgrades—two in Northern Ireland (Belleek and Garrison) and two in Ireland (Ballybay and Blacklion).
A major cross-border environmental initiative aimed at improving water quality across the north-west of Ireland has been officially launched in County Fermanagh.
The €32 million Water Enhancements through Sustainable Treatment (WEST) project was unveiled at Finn Lough Resort on the shores of Lough Erne, marking a significant step forward in efforts to address water pollution across Counties Fermanagh, Tyrone, Leitrim, Sligo, Cavan, Monaghan and Donegal.
Supported by PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB), the WEST project represents a dynamic collaboration between NI Water and Uisce Éireann. The initiative focuses on improving water quality in Lough Erne, Lough Melvin and Donegal Bay- areas within the North-Western International River Basin District that have been impacted by agricultural run-off, forestry, urban pollution and wastewater discharges..
As part of its practical outcomes, the WEST project will deliver four low-carbon wastewater treatment upgrades—two in Northern Ireland (Belleek and Garrison) and two in Ireland (Ballybay and Blacklion). These upgrades will enhance treatment for over 5,000 people, with capacity to serve an additional 1,000 residents, while demonstrating new low-energy, sustainable technologies not previously trialled on this scale in Ireland.
Funded under the Water Quality Improvement Programme of PEACEPLUS, the project embodies the spirit of cross-border cooperation and supports the aims of the Water Framework Directive, which seeks to protect and restore water quality in key shared catchments.
Speaking at the launch, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage James Browne TD highlighted the importance of working collaboratively to safeguard shared water resources: “Cooperation is vital to ensure the protection and improvement of water quality across the region. The shared approach of this PEACEPLUS-funded project embodies what is needed to improve water quality in a sustainable manner.
Minister for Infrastructure Liz Kimmins echoed this sentiment, praising the project as a model for all-island collaboration
“Through innovative new approaches and wastewater treatment upgrades, the WEST Project will bring tangible benefits to border communities by improving water quality in Lough Erne, Lough Melvin and Donegal Bay, as well as providing improved treatment for over 5,000 people and additional capacity for 1,000 more in Belleek, Garrison, Ballybay and Blacklion.”
SEUPB Chief Executive Gina McIntyre emphasised that WEST builds on a legacy of successful cross-border environmental cooperation.
“Our natural environment is one of our most important assets. Continued enhancement and protection are critical to our future economic and social development. A clean, green, and accessible environment supports healthy, active lives and helps create places where people want to live, visit, and invest. Environmental pressures do not stop at borders, and this project treats the entire catchment as a single ecosystem, promoting a greener, lower-carbon environment and reducing threats to local habitats.”
PEACEPLUS is co-funded by the European Union, the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the Government of Ireland, and the Northern Ireland Executive.
The WEST project builds upon the achievements of previous cross-border water quality initiatives funded through the INTERREG VA programme, which invested more than €55 million in projects such as Catchment Care, System for Water Quality Monitoring (SWIM), Shared Waters Enhancement and Loughs Legacy (SWELL), and Source to Tap. Together, these initiatives continue to advance a shared vision of cleaner waters and a more sustainable environment across the island of Ireland.