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785 customers in Kerry have been removed from the EPA’s Remedial Action List following the completion of upgrade work on the water treatment plant in Kilgarvan.
This €0.5 million investment in the Kilgarvan water treatment plant involved the provision of a 500m3 reservoir and the installation of in-tank aeration, thereby addressing issues with trihalomethanes (THMs) in the supply.
The EPA’s Remedial Action List, or RAL, is the list of ‘at risk’ water supplies. The Kilgarvan supply was on the RAL due to elevated levels of trihalomethanes (THMs).
“Irish Water has a prioritised programme of investment for all schemes on the RAL,” Ian O’Mahony, Irish Water’s Water Lead for Kerry, said.
“The current updated RAL shows a reduction from 11 to three schemes in Kerry which is a reflection of the progress we are making.
“Upgrade works on the remaining three – the Caherdaniel, Castlecove and Caragh Lake - water treatment plants is currently underway. These upgrades should facilitate the removal of these schemes from the RAL.”
Irish Water has put in place the first national THM plan and a prioritised programme of investment to address all inadequacies in drinking water parameters including THMs.
By 2021, the utility plans to reduce the number of schemes on the RAL to zero with an investment of €327 million in upgrading water supplies at risk from THMs.
“As a single utility, Irish Water can take a comprehensive look at the overall performance of Ireland’s drinking water production plants for the first time so that when the most serious problems are identified, projects and budgets can be prioritised.”