Inaction ‘not an option’

Rural Water News Spring 2008
Work on the upgrading of
Milehill GWS in advance of
takeover is well advanced,
while work on the
Rathgranagher GWS is due
to commence shortly.
***
Approximately 30 other
schemes have applied for
takeover and Mayo County
council is expecting a large
number of additional applications
next year, once the new
non-domestic metering policy
is implemented.
One factor delaying the connection
of schemes to the
Lough Mask Regional
Supply, however, has been an
ongoing problem with UFW.
***
Mayo GWS Federation
AGM took place in Day’s
Hotel Castlebar on the 22
January. The same officers
were returned for the coming
year. Joe Harte
(Chairperson), John Gavin
(Secretary) & Tom Staunton
(Treasurer). The meeting formulated
two motions for consideration
at the ADC.
***
Frank Harvey was scheduled
to deliver a course titled
“Distribution Network
Management in the T. F.
Royal Hotel Castlebar on
Thursday 27 March.
Roscommon
The County Federation held
its AGM on 26 February.
Two motions were forwarded
to the ADC; one in relation to
the retention of money on
upgrading works, the other
calling for the commencement
of advance works for
the Roscommon DBO bundle.
P. J. Fannon, Tommy
Cunniffe and Tom Gunning
were nominated to attend the
ADC in March.
***
Two managers have been
appointed to amalgamated
group schemes. Yvonne
Halton is manager of the
Corracreigh GWS, while
Tommy Cunniffe will manage
Oran Ballintober GWS. We
wish them both the very best
in their new positions.
***
Camlin Ballinameen GWS
recently held a full members
meeting to discuss the future
of their GWS. After unsuccessfully
exploring the possibilities
of drilling a new well
and participating in the
Roscommon DBO bundle,
the scheme were left with
limited options in terms of
remaining independent.
Since the introduction of
metering on the Cavetown
Lake supply, Roscommon
Co. Co. had reduced their
output from that plant and
could therefore connect the
Camlin Ballinameen Scheme
to the Cavetown Lake supply.
This was put forward to
the meeting and voted on the
night. It was decided that this
was the only viable option.
Members started completing
the taking-in-charge process
on the night. Roscommon
Co. Co. explained that works
would commence in the coming
months and will be completed
by the end of the summer.
***
Similarly, Tartan Scurmore
GWS will shortly hold a full
members’ meeting to discuss
their options in light of the
failure to locate a good
source despite numerous
efforts in recent years. It was
planned that this scheme
would be part of the
Roscommon bundle, but its
members must now decide if
connection to the public supply,
via Camlin Ballinameen
GWS offers the only viable
way forward.
***
The recent passing of Larry
Freehily deprives the group
water sector in Roscommon
of one of its stalwarts. Larry
was one of the main organisers
of Ballymacurly GWS
and always shared his expertise
with other GWS personnel
at meetings. His advice
was always highly respected.
He regularly represented
Roscommon at national
meetings and was a member
on the Roscommon DBO
Steering Group. Ar dheis Dia
go raibh a anam dílis.
Sligo
Sligo Federation AGM was
held in Ballisodare on 5
February. The outgoing officers
were returned; Michael
Fleming (Chairperson),
Stephen Hannon (Secretary),
Brendan Currid (Treasurer).
NFGWS Development
Officer, Paul Connolly delivered
a presentation on the
Quality Assurance system
being rolled out by the
NFGWS. He also dealt with
recent changes in Health &
Safety legislation as it relates
to group water schemes.
***
Three group water schemes
from the Sligo South East
DBO bundle attended an
NFGWS Quality Assurance
training event held on 25
February in the National
Parks & Wildlife Service
training centre in Ballinafad.
The schemes represented
were Corrick, Keash and
Geevagh/Highwood.
There was a very positive
feedback from all who
attended the course. It is
hoped that the remaining
Sligo DBO schemes will
complete the course in the
coming weeks.
***
A number of schemes in the
county have expressed some
frustration that boil notices in
place for several years have
not yet been lifted despite the
opening of their DBO treatment
plants in 2006. This
issue is being addressed by
local NFGWS development
officer, Paul Connolly, in
consultation with Sligo
County Council Water
Services Section.
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