Call for new Westport to Louisburgh water scheme

A CALL has been made on Irish Water to amend its capital plan to include a new public water supply scheme from Westport to Louisburgh.

The local water issue was discussed at a well-attended public meeting in Lecanvey on Monday night, which Deputy Lisa Chambers, who has made the call for the new scheme, attended.

Residents pledged their support for whatever action is needed to secure a safe public water supply for the villages of Murrisk, Lecanvey and Kilsallagh and the town of Louisburgh.

Speaking on the matter, Deputy Chambers said: “Residents in these areas are currently depending on water from Croagh Patrick streams, which is then treated locally, while many are buying bottled water in order to have a clean water supply.

“Residents are entitled to have a safe and clean water supply and in this day and age having to buy bottled water in order to have clean drinking water is completely unacceptable.”

She continued: “The suggestion of a group water scheme is not an acceptable outcome for the community as they are being asked to raise a colossal amount of money, somewhere in the range of €750,000, which is way beyond the community’s means.

“I intend to work closely with my colleague Councillor Brendan Mulroy to help secure the best possible outcome for the residents affected. I have raised this matter with the relevant minister and I am calling on Irish Water to amend its capital plan to include a new public water supply scheme from Westport to Louisburgh.

“It’s unfair to suggest that a group water scheme is the only option. We know there is a good water supply in Westport and the area is not far outside of Westport. If we are looking at piping water from Shannon to Dublin surely we can manage a pipe going from Westport to Louisburgh and cover every area in between.”