Works on water supply on target
WORK on the water supply in Wicklow are continuing on target, according to Irish Water.
The works are on nine water supply schemes across the county which are on the Environmental Protection Agencies (EPA) Remedial Action List (RAL) which was recently published. Irish Water is investing in on-going projects to address the different risks to the water supplies.
Works carried out by Irish Water over recent years and months has seen an improvement in the quality of drinking water being delivered to the public in Wicklow. The Arklow Water Supply was removed from the RAL in 2016 benefiting over 15,000 people.
The nine water supplies on the RAL are Roundwood, Aughrim/Annacurra, Avoca/ Ballinclash, Enniskerry, Wicklow Regional Public Supply, Bray, Greystones/Windgates/ Templecarrig, Kilmacanogue and Newton Newcastle Kilcoole.
The Avoca/Ballinclash, Enniskerry and Wicklow Regional Public Supply are on the RAL due to elevated Trihalomethanes (THMs).
THMs are chemicals formed by the reaction of naturally occurring dissolved organic material and chlorine which is used for disinfection in order to protect against pathogenic bacteria.
Irish Water has put in place the first national THMs plan and a prioritised programme of investment to address all inadequacies in drinking water parameters including THMs. By 2021 the utility plans to reduce the number of schemes on the RAL to zero with an investment of €327 million in upgrading water supplies at risk from THMs.
To help remove eight of the water supplies from the RAL Irish Water is seeking to upgrade the Vartry Treatment Plant and to construct a new pipeline and additional structures for the transfer of treated drinking water from Vartry to Callowhill.
Planning permission was granted in February of this year for the construction of a new water pipeline and additional structures for the transfer of treated drinking water from Vartry to Callowhill. The project is currently going through the tender process and once complete a contract will be awarded for the work to commence.
An Bord Pleanala is due to hold an oral hearing into the proposed upgrade of the Vartry Treatment Plant from June 12 to 14 in the Glenview Hotel.
Work has been carried out to upgrade the Avoca/ Ballinclash water treatment plant. Final commissioning of the plant was recently completed. Process proving will commence in the near future as the new plant will be going into production before the end of Q2 2017, this work will help to facilitate the removal of the supply from the RAL. Work is also progressing to upgrade the disinfection system for the Wicklow Regional Public Supply.
Speaking about the RAL and the ongoing work in Wicklow Andy Boylan said: ‘ The publication of the latest RAL update is a confirmation of the focus and dedication of Irish Water in ensuring the delivery of clean and wholesome water in the county.
‘As a single utility Irish Water is able to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the performance of Ireland’s drinking water production plants and where serious compliance challenges are found they can be tackled more effectively and efficiently. Significant improvements are being achieved year on year by this approach and last year the Arklow Water Supply was removed from the RAL last year and where there are no boil water notices in place.’