Services: Water & Sewerage
Westport Sewerage Treatment Plant
Water & Sewerage Service
In 2010 Mayo County Council will continue to ensure that the quality of drinking water at our taps and the quality of waste water discharging into our waterways will be of the highest possible quality and in compliance with the appropriate regulations. While Mayo County Council continues to expand and improve the water services infrastructure in the County, the rate of expansion has slowed in 2009. Mayo County Council has submitted a Needs Assessment to the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government for the 2010-2012 Water Services Investment programme. The onerous demands of the Polluter Pays Principle, which requires Mayo County Council to pay an average of 30% of the capital cost of major schemes means that the Council will continue to affect the Council’s ability to deliver on the Water Services Investment Programme.
Waste Water Discharge Licences
Water Management/Water Charges
WATER QUALITY
It is imperative that the public has confidence in the drinking water provided by Mayo County Council. In this regard Mayo County Council is developing a water quality management system incorporating source protection, risk management of supplies, measuring and publishing details of water quality and developing incident management plans for all of our supplies. In 2010 water quality results will be made available on the Council’s website, www.mayococo.ie Water Supplies are independently tested for Mayo County Council by the Health Service Executive and other private accredited laboratories in accordance with a monitoring programme agreed with the Environmental Protection Agency (E.P.A.).
This monitoring is carried out on a continuous basis and includes specific cryptosporidium monitoring. Mayo County Council will continue to work with the E.P.A. and Health Service Executive (H.S.E.) regarding the ongoing monitoring of water supplies.
ADDITIONAL COSTS
The 2010 Budget includes for additional maintenance costs due to new or enlarged schemes. The main increases for 2010 are as follows:
Castlebar Wastewater Treatment Works
Upgrading and extension of the scheme to cater for the long-term (up to 2020 and beyond) requirements of Castlebar and its Environs has commenced as a DBO contract. It is anticipated the Scheme will be completed in late 2010.
Remedial Action List and EPA Audited Schemes
In its role as a supervisory authority under the 2007 Drinking Water Regulations the Environmental Protection Agency has audited 9 public water supplies in Mayo and has issued a direction on 6 of these supplies. The EPA also has expressed concern about 4 additional public water supplies, bringing to 13 the number of water supplies on its Remedial Action List. Mayo County Council will incur additional costs on these schemes in 2010 to ensure that the concerns of the EPA are addressed and that the quality of the drinking water complies with the appropriate standards.
Countywide Water Conservation Project
Phase 1 of this project was completed in 2007. Phase 2 commenced in 2009, with an estimated cost of €2.3 million. This phase will carry out water conservation on the remaining water supply schemes in the county, including the Lough Mask Regional Water Supply Scheme.
To date all savings in water volumes achieved under phase 1 have been maintained and in some schemes increased.
WASTE WATER DISCHARGE LICENCES
Under legislation introduced in 2007 Mayo County Council must apply to the E.P.A. for licences for all of our Waste Water Plants and this process has been initiated. The licence application details are as follows:
Waste Water |
Size of Plant | Number Granted |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Greater than 10,000 p.e. | 3 Licences |
| 10 | 2,001 p.e. to 10,000 p.e. | 0 Licences |
| 8 | 1,001 p.e. to 2,000 p.e. | 1 Licences |
| 12 | 500 p.e. to 1,000 p.e. | 2 Licences |
| 12 | Below 500 p.e | 0 Certificates |
ENERGY MANAGEMENT
Business electricity prices were reduced on the 1st October 2009, as approved by the Commission for Energy Regulation. These reductions will see savings across all Mayo County Council’s accounts. This overall decrease will see a reduction of -0.4% on General Purpose Tariffs -5.5% on Maximum Demand and Low Load Factor tariffs. In addition to Electricity Price reductions, we also hope to see savings as a result of availing of a very dynamic Electricity market that presently exists. The procurement section within Mayo Co Council will tender all of our Electricity accounts in early 2010 that should see further reductions in our current charges.
ASSET MANAGEMENT
A comprehensive preventative maintenance programme is being carried out by the Machinery Yard. As the uninterrupted operation of our treatment plants is critical to the delivery of vital water and sewage services for the county, Mayo County Council operates an extensive preventative maintenance programme as well as necessary breakdown maintenance. Preventative maintenance is carried out before breakdown or failure occurs, the maintenance is planned and carried out at specific intervals. This is done to minimise breakdowns. Predictive maintenance or condition monitoring requires the measurement of certain parameters of the equipment, such as vibration or temperature. At pre-set levels, alarms are initiated allowing the equipment to be shut down and maintenance carried out.
WATER METERING/WATER CHARGES
2008 was the first year when all Non-Domestic customers were charged Water and Sewerage charges on a volumetric basis. 97% of customers are now metered with the remaining customers to be metered in 2010. A dedicated office was set up in 2008 dealing solely with Water Services Charges and water conservation. To date this office is processing 1800 bills per month. Customers can now pay their Water Services Charges in any Mayo County Council office, or online where they can also monitor their water consumption. It is not proposed to increase water rates in 2010. The Council will review the domestic allowance which is currently set at 225 cubic metres per annum. The Council will also consider the introduction of a fixed charge for new customers pending the installation of a new meter. The Council will also prepare for the installation of meters for domestic customers as announced in the national budget for 2010.
Water Services
Second Floor
Mayo County Council
Aras an Chontae
The Mall
Castlebar
Phone: (094)902 44 44
Email: WaterServices@mayococo.ie
Opening Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
and 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
