The project is being undertaken to comply with changed EU rules and tougher environmental standards for waste water discharging to coastal stretches. None of the local sites would have been able to treat the necessary volumes to the right standard, and Afonwen might have had to relocate at a possible loss of up to 100 or more local jobs.
It has secured a threeway partnership between itself, Welsh Water which will allow the treated water to discharge through one of its pipelines, and Environment Agency Wales. It has also gained a £275,000 selective regional assistance grant from the Welsh Assembly government towards the total cost of £650,000.
Gwynedd County Council has also assisted in the project by relocating part of its Afonwen highways department depot so that the water treatment plant could be built next to the laundry.
Afonwen Services is one of the main employers in the area and Welsh Assembly government minister Andrew Davies said he was delighted to have been able to provide this assistance to secure over 100 jobs as well as helping the company meet the new EU Standards.
Mark Woolfenden, Afonwen managing director told LCNi that work on the plant was due to start in June with completion in September. Afonwen will take full responsibility for chemical and biological treatment at the plant which will handle 480m3 of water per day.
