Lundy working hard to deliver clean water to whole of South Sligo
Councillor Jerry Lundy says he is working hard to get a clean water system for all of South Sligo.
With concerns growing over the need for an upgrade of the water treatment plant at Lough Talt, Cllr. Lundy says that particular water system could serve areas like Gurteen too, if it did indeed receive the upgrade it so badly needs.
“The Environmental Protection Agency says the plant needs an upgrade. Because it is a special area of conservation now, An Bórd Pleanála turned down permission to carry out the work,” he told The Sligo Champion.
Lundy says this particular area has become home to a rare snail, which is the reason it is now a special area of conservation.
“If someone was driving in the middle of the night and they killed one of these snails, would that be an offence?”
The area of Gurteen is serviced by Lough Gara, from which the water can often be dirty, says Lundy.
“I can tell you that the water from Lough Talt, and I can vouch for this because it’s in my parish, the water you get from Lough Talt is the cleanest water you will get from any lake.
“On the hottest day of the summer, that water will be ice-cold because it is clean and fresh.
“Then you compare that to the water from Lough Gara which is often brown with scum in it. I’ve been asking if it is possible to extend the pipe which can then supply the town of Gurteen with clean water. “
Regarding other work on water in the area, Cllr. Lundy received this communication from Irish Water:
“I have received an update advising that under the Flow Monitoring and Sampling Programme we have installed flow monitors and automatic samplers at Ballinacarrow, Ballymote, Castlebaldwin, Curry, Culfadda, Geevagh, Monasteraden, Riverstown and Rockfield. These works are now complete and operational.”