Water & Sewerage: Rural Water Plan
Strategic Rural Water Plan
The Outline stage and the Second stage of the Strategic Rural Water are complete and have been adopted and agreed by the Local County Rural Water Committee, The Water Supply and Sewerage Strategic Policy Committee and Mayo County Council. The Plan constitutes a blueprint for the future development of rural water supplies in County Mayo and facilitates the focusing of investment where it will have the most beneficial effect. The Plan has been prepared in full consultation with all interested parties. The emphasis in the early stages of the Plan is on dealing with the poor water quality problems in the privately sourced Group Water Schemes approximately 90 of which are seriously deficient. Funding can then be concentrated on upgrading pipework, reservoirs etc. The next few years will see the construction of a significant number of treatment plants on privately sourced Group Water Schemes. The relatively new Design, Build, Operate (DBO) procurement process will increasingly be used to engage contractors for this work as it permits the Groups to avail of a 100% grant for the treatment equipment. This will bring about an important change in the way potable water is produced in privately sourced Schemes as the operation of the treatment plants will be in the hands of private companies/contractors although the Groups involved will still own the facilities. The estimated cost of the works identified in the Plan is €77.45 million.
Design / Build / Operate (D.B.O.)
As already outlined, the D.B.O. procurement process is being used to engage contractors for the construction and operation of treatment plants on privately sourced Group Water Schemes. The 1 st Bundle of these Schemes in Co. Mayo consists of the following Schemes:- Ballycroy, Ballyglass/Carnacon, Brackloon/Spaddagh, Drummin, Glencorrib, Glenhest, Killeen, Kilmeena, Kilmovee, Lough Mask/Creevagh, Laghta, Belderrig, Bohola. The Employers’ Representative, Ryan Hanley Consulting Engineers, Galway, are in the process of preparing contract Documents for this Bundle A 2 nd Bundle has now been formed consisting of the following Groups: Ballyvary, Bofeenaun, Burrishoole, Callow, Cloonmore/Rooskey, Cuilmore, Curramore, Derryhillagh, Eskeragh, Keelogues, Killasser, Lahardane, Meelick, Prizon/Lisnolan, Pulladoohey, Shraheens (Foxford), Straide, Tavneena, Fahy/Kilmaclasser, and Woodfield Department approval has been sought to procure an Employers’ Representative to progress this Bundle.
Subsidy towards the Operational Costs of Group Water Supply Schemes
This scheme allows for the payment by Local Authorities of an annual subsidy towards the operational costs of Group Water Schemes in supplying water for domestic use. The objectives of the scheme are to secure the improvements of rural water supplies and to extend the benefits of the abolition of Local Authority domestic water charges to households supplied by Group Schemes. It is important that all Group Schemes avail of their Subsidy entitlements. Mayo County Council encourages all Schemes to apply for Subsidy payments to assist them in the efficient running of their water supplies.
Sampling Programme for Private Group Water Schemes
Work on the sampling of water sources used by private Group Water Schemes is being overseen by the National Rural Water Monitoring Committee. The sampling takes place on a quarterly basis. The Western Health Board carried out twice-yearly sampling on behalf of Mayo County Council.
Grants for the Provision or Necessary Improvement of an Individual Water Supply to a House.
This Scheme was introduced to assist households dependant on private individual water supplies who are incurring capital expenditure to:
- Provide a piped supply of water for domestic purposes for the first time,
or - Remedy serious deficiencies in an existing supply of water for domestic purposes.
This scheme does not apply to houses to which a Public or Group Scheme Water Supply has already been, or can be, reasonably provided. Over 300 applications have been received to date.
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.