Boil water notices lifted for 17,300 Irish Water customers in Roscommon - Kelly
Issued : Tuesday 30 June, 2015
Prioritised investment of €26.8m in Roscommon to provide clean secure drinking water supply to 22,700 customers in 2015
Minister for the Environment, Community & Local Government, Alan Kelly TD, has today welcomed the news that Irish Water has confirmed the lifting by the HSE of Boil Water Notices for 11,300 customers in Killeglan and Castlerea following EPA inspections of these plants early this week.
Minister Kelly said, “This now means that over 17,000 people can drink their water in Roscommon this year that couldn’t last year. This would simply not be possible without the creation of Irish water. Irish Water was able to target & prioritize these vulnerable areas and bring to a close the sorry saga of boil water notices in quick fashion. I have no doubt that similar successes will be replicated throughout the country.”
The Killeglan and Castlerea plants have been producing treated drinking water since March and following continuous testing and completion of EPA inspection audits at both plants this week, the HSE has today lifted the boil water notice for both supplies meaning an additional 11,300 Irish Water Customers in Roscommon now have a clean safe drinking water supply.
Irish Water has implemented an integrated programme that will allow Boil Water Notices to be lifted for 22,700 in Co. Roscommon in 2015 through a prioritised programme of work and a total investment of €26.8m. Some customers in these areas have had to boil water for drinking since 2009.
Work on the Boyle Ardcarne Regional Water Supply Scheme was completed by Irish Water in December 2014, 7 months ahead of schedule. Work on the Killeglan and Castlerea plants was completed early in 2015. Following the required period of audit and testing by the Environment Protection Agency and the Health Services Executive, the Boil Water Notice was officially lifted for 6,000 customers in Boyle on 1st May.
Boil water notices are being lifted in Roscommon at the same time that three other new water treatment plants at Lisbrock in south Roscommon, Ballinagard serving Roscommon town and Ballyfarnon serving Arigna, are close to completion. These supplies are currently on the EPA Remedial Action List and ‘at risk’ of boil water notices being issued. This risk will be removed when all 3 plants are fully commissioned by mid-2015, further securing a high quality drinking water supply for Co. Roscommon.