Water plant storage expansion sought

Councillors have called for additional storage to be introduced at one of west Donegal’s main water plants.

The water treatment facility at Crolly services a wide area and members of the Glenties Electoral Area recently visited the plant as part of a tour.

At a meeting of the electoral area which was held after the tour, the work to modernise the plant as well as the dedication of the staff at the facility were recognised. However, concerns were raised over the reserve water capacity.

Cllr. Padraig Doherty said the capacity gave storage for five hours supply when it should have a reserve of up to 24 hours.

“It needs to be six times greater,” he stated.

Cllr David Alcorn said the plant was originally built in the 1970s but a great deal had been done to modernise it since then.

He paid tribute to the staff saying they were on call “24/7” but he supported the call for tank expansion saying its capacity currently stands at around 250,000 gallons.

Area Manager for Water, Environment and Emergency Service, John Gallagher said expanding the capacity at the plant was “on the agenda” and they were dealing with consultants and “looking at all of west Donegal”.

He added that pipe replacement works in the constituency were a priority.