Friday, April 11, 2014

Council receives over €1m under Rural Water Programme

Clare County Council has received confirmation from the Department of the Environment of its decision to allocate €1,014,650 to County Clare under the 2014 Rural Water Programme.

This year's allocation represents a 66% increase on the 2013 allocation. The Council says this allocation will enable it to have infrastructural improvement works carried out to Group Water Schemes (GWS), to help ensure good quality drinking water and to establish some Group Sewerage Schemes (GSS), to prevent environmental pollution.

The single biggest allocation of €375,000 is for Design, Build and Operate (DBO) projects around Clare. Elsewhere, €275,000 is being provided for GWS (Water Conservation/ Network Upgrades), €100,000 for new GWS, €100,000 for GWS (Connecting to Public Main) and €20,400 for GWS (Specific Source Protection Works).

Specific allocation for Group Sewerage Schemes will allow the following to be progressed: Acres Ballyvaughan - €60,000, Loughville/Woodlawn (€71,250) and the carrying out of a feasibility study for a Group Sewerage Scheme for Carrigaholt.

Carmel Greene, Senior Executive Officer, Water Services explained: "While the responsibility for the management of all public water and wastewater infrastructure in the country transferred from local authorities to Irish Water in January 2014, Clare County Council continues to manage the local Rural Water Programme comprising all Group Water Schemes and Group Sewerage Schemes. Over the coming weeks, the Council will be assessing the allocation and formulating its work programme for the year."