Waterford flood defences | Ireland | 2025

Waterford, Ireland’s oldest city, has faced repeated flooding due to its location along the tidal River Suir, which threatens critical infrastructure such as Plunkett Station and nearby railway lines. In response, the city designated the riverfront as a Strategic Development Zone in 2016, enabling rapid regeneration and the development of a major flood defence scheme as part of a €207 million public infrastructure program. The project, led by Waterford City & County Council with BAM Nuttall as the main contractor and ArcelorMittal Sheet Piling supplying steel sheet piles, involved constructing approximately two kilometers of continuous steel sheet pile flood defences to protect vulnerable areas.

The solution included a cantilever steel sheet pile wall designed to withstand a 1:200 year flood event, with heavy-duty AZ-series piles installed in the western section and PU 32-1 piles in the eastern section, tailored to the variable ground conditions. Installation required advanced techniques such as vibratory and impact hammers, toe reinforcement, and pre-drilling to ensure stability and alignment, especially in challenging ground profiles. Environmental and logistical challenges were managed through vibration and noise controls, daytime work schedules, and temporary fencing to safeguard rail operations, while precast concrete cladding supported ecological integration along the foreshore.

Overall, the Waterford Flood Defence Scheme demonstrates a robust and adaptable approach to flood protection, safeguarding critical infrastructure and enabling the long-term regeneration of the city’s riverfront, with a total of 3,141 tonnes of steel sheet piles supplied across nearly 1.85 kilometers of defences.