Work
on construction of 5 permanent water treatment plants in Roscommon to be
completed by May – Feighan
*Boyle
treatment plant to be ready next month
Fine Gael TD for Roscommon-South Leitrim, Frank
Feighan, has said that work on the construction of 5 permanent water treatment
plants in County Roscommon will be completed by May, bringing to an end the
long-term boil water notices that have affected drinking water in the county.
Deputy Feighan has received
comprehensive updates on the construction projects following
representations he made to Irish Water.
“The Four Roscommon Regional Water Supply Design
Build Operate (DBO) contract was awarded to Glan Agua last year. The project
covers the separate schemes of South Roscommon, Roscommon Central, Boyle
Ardcarne and Arigna.
“The contract provides for the construction of 5
new treatment plants at Killeglan Water Treatment Works; Lisbrock Water
Treatment Works; Roscommon Town (Ballinagard) Water Treatment Works; Boyle
Ardcarne (Rockingham) Water Treatment Works and Arigna (Ballyfarnon) Water
Treatment Works.
“The Boyle Ardcarne plant will be commissioned
in December 2014 while the South Roscommon (Killeglan) is scheduled to be
commissioned in February 2015. I understand that the latter works could be
completed before this date depending on progress. Once these two plants are
fully complete, the Boil Water Notice status will be lifted in both areas. The
Roscommon Central, Arigna and Lisbrock plants are expected to be ready by May
2015.
“These treatment plants will improve drinking
water availability and quality to more than 15,000 people in South
Roscommon, 9,000 people in Central Roscommon and approximately 7,000 in
North Roscommon.
“Currently, there is no Boil Water Notice on
Lisbrock, Arigna or Roscommon Central and in the case of Roscommon Central,
there is a mobile treatment plant in place pending the permanent solution.
“In relation to the Castlerea water supply
schemes, a temporary treatment plant is being installed on the rural supply
section, which will end the boil water notice to for 3,000 people in the
Castlerea area by year end. A permanent plant is due to be built next year. A
capital investment of €1.4m has already been invested in works in Castlerea
which will see the urban and rural water networks linked by an interconnector.
“In relation to the North East Roscommon
Regional Water Supply Scheme, there are two stages to this scheme as included
in Irish Water’s Capital Investment Plan. The first scheme is currently under
construction and involves an upgrade to the pipe network. This is estimated to be
completed this month.
“The second stage involves a new water treatment
plant and Irish Water say it is currently progressing this. It is anticipated
that once the contract is awarded in the middle of next year, the works will
take approximately 20 months to complete.
“As people are well too aware, water
quality in Roscommon has been a major issue for far too long. Under previous
Governments, due to years of under-investment, a situation was allowed to come
about where thousands of people do not have access to quality drinking water.
“This €17m investment in Roscommon’s water
infrastructure will finally bring to an end the constant boil water notices
affecting so many businesses and consumers for way too long.”
Contact: Deputy Feighan, (086) 8331234.
