Mayo Sinn Féin Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

Cllr Keating gets update from Council on Westport and Louisburg water supplies

Published: 20 May, 2009

Westport Sinn Féin Town Councillor, Dave Keating, has secured a status report from Council management regarding aluminium levels in the drinking water of Westport and Louisburg. Cllr. Keating, a candidate in the upcoming Westport Town and County Council elections, raised the issue on foot of a recent EPA Report.

The update, in a letter from Council management, addressed the four key questions Cllr Keating has put to the Council some weeks ago regarding the EPA Action Plan, the Srah/Lough Mask Scheme, and the funding of both initiatives.

"While it was unfortunate that the Council was unable to provide an update at last week's Town Council meeting, I have received a letter from the Town Manager addressing the concerns I raised.

"A further €100,000 has been secured from Department of the Environment and Local Government to progress the eight outstanding recommendations of the EPA action plan. Furthermore, I have been informed by the Council that the change over to a new treatment chemical, Polyaluminium Chloride, has significantly reduced levels of aluminium in the water supply, and this should be reflected in the next EPA report," said Cllr Keating.

Cllr Keating had also raised the issue of funding of the Srah/Westport and Westport/Louisburg projects in light of recent Government cut-backs.

"Contracts have yet to be awarded for the Srah/Westport and Westport/Louisburg schemes. A loan application of €8.2 million has been made to the Dept of the Environment to cover the local contribution aspect of these schemes. If this loan is sanctioned, a further specific approval will have to be sought from the Department before any contract can be awarded," he said.

Cllr Keating thanked Westport Town Manager, Mr Peter Hynes, for the update, and said that if elected to Mayo County Council he would push for completion of this important water infrastructure project for the people of Westport and Louisburg.