Council says Letterkenny water supply is safe
Donegal County Council has issued reassurances about the safety of the water supply in Letterkenny after concerns were raised by a solicitor in the town.
Dessie Shields raised concerns over the risk of cryptosporidium in the town’s water supply after he was approached by a client. He claimed the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had issued directives to the council to carry out works to improve the water supply.
The council said the drinking water supply in Letterkenny is safe for consumption and there is no risk to public health. It said all water sources are subject to continuous monitoring and disinfection and no cause of concern has ever been found as a result of the monitoring.
The council said it has clear communication policies and practices that would be activated in the event of contamination. It said work is also progressing on it’s capital programme in conjunction with the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government in response to a direction issued to the council by the EPA which calls for an upgrade in the treatment process which includes barrier protection against cryptosporidium. These works are likely to involve significant capital expenditure and will be delivered over the coming years, the council said.
Remedial works have been directed by the EPA in Ballyshannon, Burnfoot, Cashilard, Fintown, Greencastle, Portnoo-Narin, Rathmullan, Donegal Eske and Gortahork-Falcarragh. The council says work in Ballyshannon has been completed and the Donegal Eske is compliant.
In Burnfoot a Pipeline interconnector complete and switchover to alternative supply imminent and a pilot water treatment process is under testing in Cashilard. In Portnoo-Narin an interconnector pipeline to alternative supply has been completed and augmentation from an alternative supply is planned. Preliminary design of interconnector pipelines and pumping stations to alternative supplies has been completed in Rathmullan and Tender recommendation for water treatment plant upgrade works has completed for Gortahork-Falcarragh.
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Sunday 19 May 2013
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