As External Services Provider, Jacobs (NYSE:J) is helping Uisce Éireann (previously known as Irish Water) to proactively plan the delivery of high quality, sustainable and resilient water services for Ireland through its Water Services Strategic Plan (WSSP) 2050.
As Ireland’s national public water services utility, Uisce Éireann is responsible for the operation and capital investment program for all public water and wastewater services in Ireland – supplying 449 million gallons (1.7 billion liters) of drinking water to customers and treating more than 317 million gallons (1.2 billion liters) of wastewater daily.
The draft WSSP 2050 presents Uisce Éireann’s strategic objectives, aims and actions to address the key challenges affecting the delivery of water services to 2050, including the long-term planning approach to address new and emerging trends in an uncertain future.
The WSSP forms the highest tier of Uisce Éireann’s management plans and sets the overarching framework for subsequent detailed implementation plans and water services projects. This project is supported under the Multi Supplier Framework for the Provision of Engineering Design Services. Uisce Éireann expects the project to run for approximately two years.
“As the impact of climate change puts growing pressure on the availability and resilience of national water resources, there is an increasing need for long-term planning and an adoption of a whole system approach,” said Jacobs Senior Vice President Kate Kenny. “Jacobs’ experience in working on a range of strategic plans with water utility companies all over the world puts us in a strong position to support Uisce Éireann in preparing for future uncertainties and capitalizing on emerging trends.”
Uisce Éireann Chief Technical Advisor John Casey said: “We operate in a rapidly changing global environment that will bring enormous challenges for the delivery of water services including climate change, population and economic growth, environmental and biodiversity crisis, legislation, regulation and policy changes, economic conditions and aging infrastructure. Through the delivery of our draft WSSP 2050, we will build on the legacy of our local authority water services heritage, working with our customers, communities and stakeholders to enhance our shared environment and support social and economic development. We aim to lead by example and embrace research and innovation, integrating new technologies and sustainable practices to secure a safe and reliable water supply into the future while protecting the environment.
“We are now inviting all our stakeholders and members of the public to have their say in relation to how these essential services are managed and delivered, for the benefit of customers and communities throughout Ireland,” he added.
A public consultation is running to July 16, 2024, seeking input to the draft WSSP 2050. For more information, view the draft Water Services Strategic Plan 2050 Consultation information leaflet.
Jacobs has more than 1,200 employees in Ireland serving clients in sectors such as Infrastructure, including Water and Transportation, Energy, Environment, Cities & Places, Advanced Manufacturing and Health & Life Sciences. Projects include the National Water Resources Plan, Greater Dublin Drainage Project, Irish Rail’s East Coast Railway Infrastructure Protection Projects program, Edwards Lifesciences Greenfield Manufacturing Facility, and National Transport Authority’s Dublin and Cork BusConnects programs to improve bus services in the cities.
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