The Response Group, one of Ireland’s leading water and wastewater treatment companies, has been awarded a long term 20 year contract by Limerick City Council, valued at EUR60m, to operate and maintain the major assets of the Limerick Main Drainage Scheme. The Response Group will deliver the services as part of a consortium it has formed with Severn Trent, an international provider of water and wastewater technology, operations and analytical services. The contract was awarded to Response Group as part of a public tender process.
The EUR300m Limerick Main Drainage Scheme is a major environmental and infrastructural investment project that has equipped and enabled Limerick City and its environs to effectively provide for the domestic, industrial and commercial development of the area well in to the future. In particular, the project has significantly upgraded and expanded the sewer network, built a new large scale waste water treatment plant at Bunlicky, a regional Sludge Treatment facility, the development of a major pumping station and the completion of significant river engineering works in developing part of the project which was integrated with a navigational scheme for the Shannon.
The Response Group consortium will now be responsible for maintaining and operating these major assets to strict performance management standards, ensuring the Limerick Main Drainage Scheme meets its statutory requirements under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive combined with the water quality standards set down in the Shannon Estuary Water Quality Management Plan. Commenting on the contract announcement, Noel Hanley, Chairman of Response Group, said: “We are delighted for the Response Group consortium to have been awarded this prestigious 20 year contract to oversee the operation and sustainability of one of Limerick’s most important infrastructures. For Response Group, we very much see this win as a strong vote of confidence in our professional capabilities and our ability to meet the due diligence requirements as set out in the service contract.”
Speaking on behalf of the Limerick Main Drainage Scheme, Pat Dromey, Director of Services at Limerick City Council, said: “We are delighted to be working with the Response Group. We believe we have secured a high quality, value for money service agreement for the next 20 years, that will ensure our statutory obligations are met, our water quality objectives achieved and the future development of the city can now progress.”
The Irish owned Response Group provides water and environmental services for both public and private clients throughout Ireland. Response offers a wide range of turnkey solutions for the water industry, based on its track record in the design, construction and operation of treatment plants and operating facilities. Other contracts successfully awarded to Response Group more recently include Design Build and Operate projects for Sewerage schemes at Carrick on Shannon and Leitrim Towns & Villages, Templemore, a leachate treatment plant at Wexford County Council and a water treatment plant at Terryland in Galway City.
Last month, Response Group was named for the second consecutive year, as one of Ireland’s ‘Best managed’ companies in the Deloitte Best Managed Companies Awards. The awards recognize indigenous Irish companies across the island of Ireland, which are operating at the highest levels of business performance, covering strategy, capability, commitment, financials and growth potential across all key functions of the business.
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