Eight months after it was declared unsafe, the public water supply in Loughrea has been given the all-clear.
While the 8,500 customers in Loughrea and hinterland will be breathing a sigh of relief, there is no good news for the residents of Carraroe and Kilconnell which still remain on a boil water notice.
Irish Water said it had invested over €300,000 at the two treatment plants in Loughrea to ensure a safe and reliable supply of drinking water in the town and hinterland.
The boil water notice was issued on February 2 after the potentially dangerous bug cryptosporidium was discovered in tests. The estimated period of time to solve the problem was initially put at two months. Irish Water executive Ger Greally said the Loughrea water treatment plants now provide a robust barrier to microbiological and other contaminants.
“Irish Water is delighted that this boil water notice has been lifted within a relatively short timeframe considering the scope of works involved,” he stated.
“Both Loughrea water treatment plants will now provide year-round protection against the range of contaminants found in the raw water. New UV systems were installed at the two plants along with significant filter optimisation works, extensive flushing of the mains and cleaning of all four reservoirs associated with this scheme.”
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said its auditors were satisfied with the upgrade works carried out to improve the safety and security of Loughrea public water scheme.
The agency stated that filter management at both Loughrea plants had been significantly improved and added that the new UV disinfection systems meet the criterial for UV disinfection under the EPA Drinking Water Advice.
“Secondary disinfection by chlorination provides residual disinfection in the distribution network. All reservoirs have been cleaned and intensive network flushing has been carried out,” the report stated.
A boil notice was put in place in Kilconnell in November 2015 and in Carraroe last March.
“Irish Water is investigating a number of options to find a short term solution for the Kilconnell water supply. Once a resolution is agreed Irish Water will issue a detailed update,” according to a spokesperson.
“In relation to Carraroe, the works at the treatment plant are complete and a period of process proving is underway. We expect to issue an update in the next couple of weeks.” That work has cost in the region of €1m.
At its height in the last year there were 11,213 Galway residents on full or partial boil water notices or experiencing a water restriction due to contamination in the public water supply – it hit Ballinasloe in December 2015, Loughrea and Lettermore were both announced the following February, while Carraroe’s supply was declared off limits in March and Ahascragh was next to make the list in April.
Williamstown had a boil water notice in place since October 2014 which was only lifted last May. Irish Water is currently putting in place a long term solution to the issues in Williamstown consisting of an extension of the Lough Mask pipe line from Ballyhaunis. This is programmed for completion at the end of 2017.
A boil water notice imposed on the Leenane Public Water Supply in July 2015 was lifted last month after an investment of almost €1 million at the local treatment plant which supplies over 200 customers.
Customers on the Loughrea Regional Water Supply – including the Craughwell area and the following group water schemes – Earlspark, Masonbrook, Newtowndaly, Loughrea Rural, Killeenadeema, Carrowmore/Clostoken & Caherlaven, Caherdine, Carrigean – can now resume the normal use of tap water for drinking, food preparation, making ice and brushing teeth.
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