Inaction ‘not an option’

Rural Water News Spring 2008
Leinster
Region
by Barry Deane &
Joe Gallagher
Carlow
Commissioning is underway
on the St Mullins Parish
GWS DBO treatment plant.
This will take a number of
weeks, as theirs is one of the
more technical plants to
process prove. The universal
metering contract is almost
complete at this stage.
***
Ballinabranna GWS treatment
plant has been commissioned
and is being operated by EPS.
The scheme has noticed a
considerable drop in daily
demand since the first
metered bills were issued late
last year. Contracts for a distribution
mains upgrade were
signed recently and work will
start shortly. Besides replacing
many smaller mains, the
upgrade will link two sections
of the scheme currently being
fed from separate sources.
***
Knock/Ballyglisheen GWS, a
small scheme in south
Carlow with water quality
problems is considering
upgrade solutions.
***
Carlow & Wexford GWS
Federation held its AGM in
Ballon in February. The location
was chosen to encourage
the attendance from
Wexford. This had the
desired effect as a number of
Wexford and all Carlow
schemes were represented.
The meeting forwarded two
motions to the ADC in relation
to training and funding
for GWS management.
Silliot Hill, Blackrath and
Clongorey GWS.
***
Plans are in place to install
disinfection on Kilteel GWS
over the next few months.
***
Gormanstown GWS met EPS
Ltd. for a site meeting in
February. Work on the DBO
treatment plant will begin
over the next few weeks.
The committee is proposing
to relocate to a new reservoir
site as part of its upgrade,
subject to a suitable site
being purchased.
The committee advertised for
the post of part-time manager
in recent months and is due to
make an appointment shortly.
***
Narraghmore GWS is considering
upgrade proposals.
The scheme will be intersected
a number of times by the
New N81 and the committee
is liaising with the NRA on
this matter.
Water quality is of a high
standard, but the committee
is anxious to replace critical
mains and install meters.
***
It is hoped to begin work this
year on the proposed
Mountprospect/Clonbrin
GWS. This publicly-sourced
GWS is a cross border project
between Kildare and
Offaly and requires agreement
by both county councils
on a Section 85 before construction
can go ahead.
People in the area are frustrated
with the delay on the
project and expect that both
local authorities can come to
an agreement shortly.
Kilkenny
At its January meeting, the
Rural Water Monitoring
Committee discussed upgrading
proposals for 2008. The
committee hopes to improve
overall draw down of funds
within the county.
***
Kilkenny Federation of
Group Water Schemes held
its AGM in February. The
meeting was attended by
Michael Arthurs, Rural
Water Liaison Officer and
Eamon Mahon, Engineer,
both from Kilkenny Co.
Council. Michael Arthurs
outlined what is happening in
the water services in
Kilkenny and areas where
improvements are being
made. The county council is
currently mapping all sources
and distribution mains within
the county and adding this
information on their CIS.
Motions on source protection
and capital grant aid were
submitted to the ADC.
***
Kilkenny Co. Co. and the
NFGWS are jointly planning
to meet several schemes in
the county that have water
quality issues. It is hoped to
agree sustainable solutions.
***
Four of the five Kilkenny
group water schemes
involved in the South Leinster
DBO project are now being
operated by EPS Ltd. and
commissioning is due to commence
shortly on the
Ballycallan GWS where a site
meeting took place in the first
week of March.
Improvement works on the
Ballycallan reservoir will
also commence shortly.
***
Highrath GWS completed an
upgrade to its treatment and
storage facilities two years
ago but is now considering
some critical mains replacement.
Kildare
The RWMC met in January
to review progress during
2007 and to look at proposals
for the coming year. The
committee hopes to start
work on several takeover
projects shortly, including
Contracts for an upgrade on the Ballinabranna GWS network were signed on 15 February. Present were
Cllr Jim Townsend, Cathaoirleach, Carlow Co. Co., John Carley, A. Director of Services, Carlow Co. Co.,
Austin Kinsella, Chairperson, Ballinabranna GWS, Liz Amond, Secretary, Ballinabranna GWS, Mary
Cotter, EAE Consultancy Ltd and David Walsh, Contractor.
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