Into the future

Rural Water News Autumn 2006
Monaghan
A Taking over Certificate
was issued for the
Stranooden GWS treatment
plant in early August. There
is still some landscaping and
minor civil works to be completed
at a number of other
sites in the DBO bundle,
including Churchill/Oram,
Newbliss PWS, Tydavnet,
Aughnashalvey and Killanny.
***
The results from the preliminary
Water Audit Report conducted
on all the DBO
schemes concluded with an
average UFW across all
schemes of 57%. UFW was
assessed using the minimum
night-time flow method.
Many of the schemes have
expressed concerns with the
findings in this report, stating
that the figures obtained took
account of high night usage
by poultry farms (on some
schemes) and also leakages
on the consumer side of the
meter and is, therefore, not
reflecting their true UFW.
Schemes are asked to assess
their individual schemes to
assist in calculating their true
UFW. Jean Gibson is available
to help schemes, if required.
***
A number of upgrading
works are on-going around
the county, including construction
of a new 100,000
gallon raw water reservoir at
Aughnashalvey GWS and a
similar reservoir at
Doohamlet. A valve replacement
contract is ongoing at
Corduff/Corracharra GWS
and construction is underway
of a roadway, fencing and site
works to the existing reservoir
at Glaslough/Tyholland
GWS.
***
Tydavnet GWS is laying a
new 2.2km pipeline (by directional
drilling) to augment the
supply to Tydavnet village
and facilitate construction of
about 100 houses. This project
is being funded entirely by
developers, as there is no
grant aid available.
Patrick McCabe, winner of the Stranooden GWS bursary for environmental studies, receives his parchment
from Jim Ganley of the DoEHLG. Also pictured is Stranooden GWS manager, Michael McPhillips.
***
In another development
Tydavnet GWS has set up a
laboratory to ensure continued
monitoring of drinking water
quality. The system is supplied
by Techno-Path Ltd.
***
The second Stranooden GWS
bursary has been awarded to
Patrick McCabe, a student of
Applied Environmental
Science at University College
Dublin. Stranooden introduced
the bursary award in
2002 to encourage children
of members to consider pursuing
environmental studies at
third level. The first winner
of the bursary, Andrea
Graham, successfully completed
her studies at Sligo
Institute of Technology in
2005.
The bursary was presented to
Patrick McCabe by Jim
Ganley of the Department of
the Environment, Heritage &
Local Government in his last
act in the rural water sector.
***
One of Monaghan’s bestloved
and most respected
rural water activists has
retired from his role as secretary
of Churchill & Oram
Group Water Scheme.
Friends and colleagues paid
warm tributes to the colourful
and ever-energetic Paddy
McGeough, a stalwart of
Churchill & Oram, having
served as secretary since the
scheme’s formation in 1978.
Following a tree-planting
ceremony at the treatment
plant, the occasion was
marked at a special reception
in the Glencarn Hotel,
Castleblayney.
Although stepping down as
secretary, the good news is
that Paddy will continue as a
committee member.
Outgoing secretary of Churchill & Oram GWS, Paddy McGeough was
honoured on his retirement by colleagues and friends at a tree planting
ceremony and reception.
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