Rural Water Programme
2003 was a very busy and productive year for the Rural Water Programme in Sligo. In the last year the Water Services section of Sligo County Council administered an allocation of over €2.5 million for the county…
| Group Water Schemes | 1,500,000 |
| Small Schemes | 550,000 |
| Takeover and upgrading of schems | 550,000 |
| Design/Build/Operate (DBO) Projects | 100,000 |
| Total | €2,650,000 |
Work on a number of Group Water Schemes has been completed, including Castletown, Carrowmoran, Lackagh, Carrickbanagher and Carrowloban. Work on the upgrading of the Ballintogher Group Water Scheme is also well advanced.
Sligo County Council has been successful in obtaining substantial funding from the Department facilitating the upgrading of Stages 1 and extension of the Geevagh/Highwood Group Water Scheme which supplies approximately 484 properties.
Stage 1 of the scheme consisted of an Intake Pumphouse, Rising Mains, a 227m3 Reservoir and Pumping Station. An extension of Stage 1 has since been approved which involves the laying of laying a 250mm OD trunk main from the proposed treatment works site to Moytirra Reservoir metres and a 180mm OD trunk main from Moytirra Reservoir The successful contractors for Stage 1 of the scheme were P & S Civil Works.
Work on Stage 2 of the scheme is due to commence in 2004. This contract which is being carried out by Carty Contractors Limited includes the laying of 9,548 metres of 180mm OD gravity main to the proposed reservoir at Aghoo and 1,632 metres of 180mm OD mains from Aghoo to Drumnasoohy and a storage reservoir at Aghoo.
The estimated cost of the scheme is €2.3m Work is also nearing completion on the upgrading of Ballygawley Group Water Scheme at a cost of €1.4 million, and it is proposed to connect the Ballygawley and Ballintogher Schemes to the Sligo and Environs Scheme in Autumn 2004. This work which consists of the Provision of a Booster Pumping Station, a 455m3 reservoir, approximately 9,062 metres of pipelines and ancillary works is being carried by P. Clarke & Sons Limited.
Upgrading works on the Culfadda Group Water Scheme has also been approved at an estimated cost of €250,000. There are 170 houses, 12 farms and 3 commercial properties on this Scheme and the successful contractors are P&S Civil Works. Work will get underway in 2004 on the Castlebaldwin Group Water Scheme at a cost of €228,000 and the Benbulben Group Water Scheme costing €250,000. Work will also commence on Group Water Schemes at Fuel/Drimbane, Rathgoonane and Belclare, and Sligo County Council will be taking over and upgrading and Coney/Stonehall Group Water Scheme in the current year. Expression of interest have been received for three sewerage schemes - Ballisodare, Cloonacool and Aclare and these are being examined.
Funding has been sought in respect of advance works for proposed schemes at Keash, Drum East and Keelogoboy.
Group schemes are at planning stage for the provision of group schemes to serve the Doo/Knockminna, Gleann/Kinnagrelly, Coolaney Road, Glack and Ballintogher/Drumahair Road Areas. The Key element of any Group Water Scheme is the involvement and commitment of all the members. The membership rules ensure the efficient and fair operation of the scheme for the benefit of all the members. The Group Water Scheme is as community-based public utility.
Councillor Gerry Murray, Chairman of Sligo Rural Water Programme Monitoring Committee commented that ‘Water is our most valuable natural resource, and it is important that we work closely with the various local communities to help them obtain a proper water supply. Sligo County Council operates what is arguably the most comprehensive Rural Water Programme in the county, and our busy schedule of work will continue throughout 2004.’
