Plans for water supply works

EIGHT drinking water water supply zones in County Wicklow have been included on the Enviromental Protection Agency’s Remedial Action List (RAL).

Supplies in Aughrim/Annacurra, Avoca/Ballinclash, Wicklow Regional Public Supply, Enniskerry Public Supply, Bray, Greystones/Windgates/ Templecarraig, Kilmacanogue and Newtown/Newcastle/Kilcoole are listed as requiring remedial action.

Irish Water outlined progress to date this week and a spokesperson said that some works have been completed and others are in the planning and tender stages.

‘Of the water supply zones listed above, six of these are served by the Vartry Water Supply zone and are on the RAL because the Vartry Water Treatment plant and the Callowhill Tunnel need to be upgraded,’ said the spokesperson.

According to Irish Water, about 60 per cent of all the water supplied to County Wicklow comes from Vartry. The body was granted planning permission in January of this year to replace the Callowhill Tunnel.

‘ The tender process has been completed and is currently pending award. The works are expected to commence on site in 2018 and will take approxi- mately two years to complete,’ said the spokesperson.

An Bord Pleanala held an oral hearing into plans to upgrade theVartry Water Treatment Plant in June and a decision is expected in September.

‘Work has been carried out to upgrade the Avoca/Ballinclash water treatment plant. Final commissioning of the plant was recently completed. Process proving is currently taking place. This work will help to facilitate the removal of the supply from the RAL. Irish Water is reviewing plans to upgrade the Aughrim/Annacurra Water Treatment Plant,’ the spokesperson added.