Ringsend Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade - Phosphorus Fixation Project

This project stands out as a strong contender for an award due to its innovation, quality, and professional excellence. The facility is the first of its kind in Ireland, the largest in Europe, and the second largest in the world. As a core component of the broader Ringsend Wastewater Treatment Plant (WwTP) upgrade, the Phosphorus Fixation Facility will help increase the plant’s capacity to 2.4 million Population Equivalent (PE), supporting future housing and economic development while safeguarding the sensitive environment of Dublin Bay. The project has also received national acclaim, having been featured on RTÉ News and honoured with the Project of the Year award by the Association of Consulting Engineers Ireland (a FIDIC Member Association) in 2024.

The project demonstrates transparency and integrity in its management and implementation. The use of the Advanced Warning sub-clause within the FIDIC contract form helped proactively mitigate claims, resulting in only a minimal increase of 0.25% to the original contract sum. In addition, internationally recognised best practices were adopted, including the application of the Project Management Institute’s PMBoK methodologies for earned value management and programme monitoring throughout construction.

From a sustainability perspective, the facility directly supports four of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: Clean Water and Sanitation; Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure; Responsible Consumption and Production; and Life Below Water. It plays a key role in advancing a circular economy by recovering phosphorus from wastewater and converting it into a slow-release fertiliser, thus reducing Ireland’s dependency on imported, unsustainable rock phosphate. This shift contributes to lowering the carbon footprint associated with transportation and eliminates the need for destructive strip-mining practices. When fully operational—anticipated around 2025—the facility will recover approximately 25% of all phosphorus in Irish wastewater, producing up to 4,000 tonnes of fertiliser annually.

The value and benefits extend to the client, owner, and wider community. Ireland’s national water service provider gains from the recovery of waste into a commercially valuable product. More broadly, the Ringsend WwTP upgrade will ensure that 97% of Ireland’s urban wastewater is treated in compliance with the EU Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive. Furthermore, it will bring substantial environmental improvements, notably enhancing water quality within the South Dublin Bay Special Area of Conservation.