‘Serious’ warning issued as water treatment plant in Leitrim reaches full capacity

A “serious” warning has been issued after a water treatment plant in County Leitrim reached full capacity.

Sligo-Leitrim Sinn Féin TD Martin Kenny spoke on the subject during a debate on Uisce Éireann in the Dáil.

Deputy Kenny criticised Uisce Éireann for its apparent lack of communication with public representatives.

He argued that as a public body, it is the utility’s responsibility to engage, and called on the Minister for Housing, James Browne, to take action on the issue.

He went on to raise a number of issues with water services in County Leitrim.

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Deputy Kenny said: “The issues have been well aired regarding various problems in different parts of the country. They are no different in my area.

“They are no different, particularly in parts of County Leitrim, where there are towns where the wastewater system is at maximum capacity already.

“Even if planning permission is given to build 50 houses in places like Mohill, Drumshanbo or other towns, they cannot get a letter from Uisce Éireann saying that they can go ahead with that because the capacity is not there to do it. That is the same in an awful lot of areas.”

He continued by highlighting issues with a particular water treatment plant in the county.

“At the moment, for the whole of south Leitrim, water that is treated comes from the River Shannon, outside of Carrick-on-Shannon.

“There is a big treatment facility there. That treatment facility is at 120% capacity.

“It is producing more water than it was designed to produce. If there is a burst or problem, we all have a serious issue.”

Deputy Kenny also raised issues with a group scheme on the outskirts of Drumshanbo.

“That brings me to the example I have written to the Minister about and he has kicked back the letter saying to talk to Uisce Éireann regarding it.

“There is a group scheme in an area outside of Drumshanbo, which is up on the mountain. This group scheme takes its water from a set of spring wells in the mountains.

“There are thousands of acres. It is a clear open mountain. The water is of the highest quality.

“Naturally, to meet the requirements, it has to get a small level of treatment. It applied to Uisce Éireann to get the grants to upgrade its treatment facilities.”

He continued by outlining the result of that application and Uisce Éireann’s subsequent plans for the facility.

“It will not give them the grants. It says, ‘No. We want to take over your supply.’ It wants to take it in charge. That is fine.

“However, when it talked about taking it in charge, it said that if it takes it in charge, it will no longer use that water.

“It will pump the water from Carrick-on-Shannon up the top of the mountain, even though at the moment it cannot supply enough of it for everywhere else.

“This particular group scheme has not got one pump because all houses on it are kilometres below and with gravity it flows to everybody. The running costs of it are negligible.

“Yet, Uisce Éireann refuses to give the scheme the small grant it needs to provide the practices that need to be in place to keep the water clean.”

Deputy Kenny concluded by saying that a “big problem” with Uisce Éireann is its inability to think outside the box.

Minister of State Christopher O’Sullivan was present in the chamber on behalf of the Minister for Housing, James Browne.

While Minister O’Sullivan did not give a direct response to Deputy Kenny, he did provide a general response to all members.

He highlighted the work the Government has done to address water issues across the country, but acknowledged that there is much more to do.

He complimented Uisce Éireann on the “significant progress” it has made in that regard, but accepted that the utility is not perfect.

Minister O’Sullivan said: “We realise that Uisce Éireann certainly has not got everything right. We realise there is a necessity to focus on wastewater projects and water supply.

“The Minister and Ministers of State in the Department know there are towns, villages, cities and urban areas where improvements are needed or where basic infrastructure is needed.

“We know that some of these timelines are very hard to stomach and very frustrating but when we think about the various licences and permits that are needed, we can understand.”

He added that the Department will focus on reducing the amount of red tape involved in the delivery of water services.

Minister O’Sullivan concluded by saying that the Government will continue to support Uisce Éireann and the work it is doing nationwide.