The recent announcement by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that the North Roscommon Water Supply Scheme has been removed from its Remedial Action List (RAL) has been welcomed by independent TD Michael Fitzmaurice.
As a result of this, there is only one remaining scheme – the Grangemore supply – on the RAL; the North East Roscommon and Ballinlough Water Supply Schemes were removed from the list early last year.
Commenting on the latest quarterly update from the EPA, the Roscommon-Galway TD said: “This is welcome news for over 8,500 water consumers who avail of the North Roscommon scheme.
“Essential improvements were completed on the North Roscommon Water Treatment Plant in the latter stages of 2018 by Irish Water, with an investment of almost €3 million.
“The quality of drinking water has improved and the water supply has been safeguarded as a result of these works.”
Fitzmaurice also underlined the importance of progressing works on the extension of the Boyle Water Supply Scheme to cover Grangemore as quickly as possible.
Grangemore is currently served by the Cavetown Water Treatment Plant, but work is currently being carried out to extend the Boyle scheme – with an investment of approximately €2.4 million allocated to the project.
Concluding, the independent TD said: “It is hoped that the extension of the Boyle Water Supply Scheme – which will involve the laying of 4.7km of rising and interconnecting water mains – will be completed in the spring of next year.
“Drinking water quality will improve in the Grangemore area and there will be increased water storage once these works are completed. As well as this, the improvements will hopefully mean that there will be no water supply scheme in Roscommon on the EPA’s Remedial Action List.”