Appeal to 'sign up' for new west Mayo water scheme

THE people who have yet to sign up to the Murrisk water scheme have been implored to do so now.

An appeal has especially issued to holiday home owners to support the local community by connecting to the scheme.

The scheme will service between 500 and 550 houses in Murrisk, Lecanvey and Kilsallagh. The 50 kilometres of pipeline will see an increased trunk size to allow for any future extension to Louisburgh.

There is a local contribution for households to join, with 60 to 70 domestic properties still yet to sign up. They are urged to do so now as the cost for connecting to the supply in the future will be significantly increased.

Local councillors at a municipal district meeting were told detailed design has been completed and submitted to Irish Water. It is hoped to be ready to advertise for civil contracts in January.

The local contribution to the €6.25 million scheme is just over €850,000. That is payable directly to Mayo County Council and to date, €726,880 has been paid in respect of 472 household connections.

There are 535 potential connections and it is hoped to get more of them in place.

It is intended to write to those outstanding about an impending deadline and to explain the cost difference between signing up now or in the future.

Councillor Christy Hyland spoke from personal experience of how a water supply from a well is not guaranteed for life.

Holiday home owners, he said, who have not joined the scheme would have to step up to the plate and sign up.

Councillor Johnny O'Malley said they needed to impress on those yet to join how the cost could be four or five times higher in the future.

Councillor Peter Flynn appealed to holiday home owners to 'please sign up', also highlighting the additional costs down the road.