Westport Fianna Fáil Councillor Margaret Adams has welcomed the raising of a loan for the upgrade of the treatment works at Tourmakeady and the extension of the scheme to Westport and Louisburgh.
Cllr Adams said: “Funding for this project had been sanctioned by the Department some years ago but Mayo County Council has since been in negotiations with the Department, in relation to their contribution. The total cost of the project is an estimated €28m.”
The approved works include a new trunk water main from Srah to Westport, a 4,000m3 reservoir at Farnaght near Westport, improvements to the raw water pumping station at the intake from the lake, and an upgrade and expansion of the water treatment plant itself. The production capacity of the plant will increase substantially from 27,500m3 per day to a new daily output of 40,600m3.
The Lough Mask treatment plant will be able to produce sufficient treated water to meet the needs of the many areas it now serves, along with those that will be connected to it in the future. It will ensure that Westport consumers can rely on a high quality water supply that will have capacity to meet current and future needs in and around the town.
Westport to Louisburgh extension
This extension will replace the current inadequate supply drawn from the Bunowen River and will guarantee a high quality and reliable water supply system for Louisburgh residents now and in the future.
Cllr Margaret Adams said: “I welcome the progress in relation to the Louisburgh Water Scheme. This scheme is vital as the people of Louisburgh have suffered far too long with an inadequate supply of water, which was a hindrance to the expansion of the town. I am mindful that the scheme is very important as a support for new development and investment in Louisburgh. This water supply will also serve the areas of Murrisk and Lecanvey, who for decades have been dependent on water from the mountain to supply the ever-growing needs of these areas.”
