Irish Water has this week signed off two contracts with a combined total value of €15.8 million.

The uitility has announced details of a €10 million investment which will see the extension of the Lough Mask Water Supply Scheme in Co. Mayo to Ballinlough in Co. Roscomomn and Williamstown in Co. Galway.

This is the first time a major water supply will supply three counties and underpins the importance of a one-utility approach.

Both the Ballinlough and Williamstown water supplies are on the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Remedial Action List (RAL), while the Ballinlough scheme has been on a boil water notice since January 2016.

The extension of the Lough Mask water supply to the two areas will ensure a clean and secure supply of water for the 5,000 consumers on the two supplies and allow the removal of the Ballinlough consumers from the boil water notice.

Working in partnership with Mayo, Galway and Roscommon County Councils, Irish Water has appointed BSG Civil Engineering Limited to carry out the works which are due to commence in the coming weeks. The contract was signed last week and works are expected to be completed in one year.

The works include the construction of over 22 kilometres of new watermains, a new water pumping station at the Ballyhaunis reservoir and the construction of a new reservoir and control building at the site of the existing Garranlahan water tower near Ballinlough.

The existing Ballinlough and Williamstown water treatment plants will be decommissioned as a result of the solution to the long-standing water problems experienced in both of these areas.

Welcoming the announcement David McLoone, Irish Water’s Infrastructure Programme Regional Lead for the North West Region, said:

 “This project will provide a long term solution to water problems experienced by consumers in Ballinlough and Williamstown by safeguarding the drinking water supply to a population of 5,000.”

Anthony Skeffington, Regional Water Lead for Mayo and Roscommon, added that the major supply would now supply three counties and ensure compliance with requirements set out in the European Union Drinking Water Directive and national Drinking Water Regulations.

€5.8m scheme to secure water supply in Greencastle

Irish Water has also signed a contract which will provide a secure supply of water to the people of Greencastle.

The utility is investing €5.8 million in the Inishowen Regional Water Supply Scheme. The Greencastle Water Supply, which has elevated levels of trihalomethanes (THMs), is on the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Remedial Action List (RAL). The much needed works will enable the decommissioning of the Greencastle Water Treatment Plant (WTP).

Working in partnership with Donegal County Council, Irish Water has appointed Lagan Construction Group Limited to carry out the project. Works are expected to commence in April 2017 with an estimated completion date set for December 2018.

The Greencastle supply is currently supplied from the Greencastle WTP and the East Inishowen (Redcastle) WTP. The project will address the current water quality issues in the Greencastle supply by transferring water from the Pollan Dam WTP to East Inishowen, while allowing the decommissioning of the Greencastle WTP.

Declan Cawley, Irish Water’s Water Network Regional Lead for the North West Region, said:

 “The project includes the transfer of 1,500m3/day from the Pollan Dam WTP into East Inishowen and will necessitate the construction of a pumping station within the existing Pollan Dam WTP site, a 6.95km rising main to a new reservoir at Crockaveeny and 4.5km of distribution main.”

Laurence Nash, Irish Water’s Operations and Maintenance Lead for Water in Donegal, added:

 “Irish Water is acutely aware of the issue with THMs in the Greencastle water supply and is delighted to be progressing with this project which will eliminate the risk posed on the supply.”