Fianna Fail TD Eugene Murphy has called for works on the Ballinlough/Loughglynn, Grangemore and North Roscommon to be fast-tracked as a matter of urgency following the publication of the EPA Remedial Action List.
Commenting on the findings of the report Eugene Murphy said “The four plants which still remain on the RAL are Ballinlough/Loughglynn, Grangemore, North East Regional WSS, and North Roscommon Regional WSS. Over 3,500 homeowners and business people in the Ballinlough/Loughglynn area are still suffering under a boil water notice with a very real threat of Cryptosporidium. This has been ongoing for some time and is a serious inconvenience- Irish Water has determined that the most appropriate solution is to extend the Lough Mask Regional Water Supply Scheme to Ballinlough and Williamstown. This work was meant to start in early 2017 and am calling for it to be fast-tracked to ensure it is delivered as quickly as possible as Ballinlough needs to be a priority,” said Deputy Murphy.
The Fianna Fáil TD expressed grave concern over the elevated THM chemical levels in the Grangemore WTW and North Roscommon WTW supplies.
“The presence of elevated THM Trihalomethanes chemicals in the Grangemore and North Roscommon schemes are of grave concern as these schemes supply water to 7,966 people. Irish Water has indicated that they are upgrading the North Roscommon Regional water supply scheme while the Grangemore scheme will be replaced by the Boyle/Ardcarne water supply in the medium term but this is exactly what they said a number of months ago- there has been no real progress- I am calling for works on these schemes to be prioritised on the basis of these elevated THM levels and it is vital that that the disinfection system is being optimised at this plant,” said Deputy Murphy.
“I do acknowledge the fact that construction works on the long term solution for North East Roscommon are continuing and this involves constructing a new water treatment plant and intake works which will abstract and treat water from a new source at Grange Lough. This treatment plant will ultimately replace the temporary plant in operation at Lisheen Lake and is scheduled for completion in the second quarter of 2017. This plant, when commissioned, will remove this scheme off the RAL subject to approval of the EPA,” concluded Deputy Murphy.