€28m refresh for West Cork water

Drinking water in Skibbereen and surrounding areas is set to improve as the sod was turned on a €28 million upgrade.

The project will improve water quality and security of supply for about 7,000 people in the areas of Skibbereen, Drimoleague, Schull, Leap and Sherkin Island.

The Skibbereen Regional Water Supply Scheme area is currently supplied with drinking water from five separate water treatment plants in Ballinlough, Ballyhilty, Drimoleague, Lake Cross and Skeagh.

The water treatment plants in Drimoleague, Skeagh (near Schull) and Ballinlough (near Leap), have inadequate treatment facilities and are consequently included on the EPA’s Remedial Action List - the list of ‘at risk’ water supplies. As a result of the upgrade, these three plants will be decommissioned.

The other two water treatment plants in Ballyhilty and Lake Cross will be retained, upgraded and expanded to become the sole sources of supply for Skibbereen Regional Water Supply Scheme.

The project will also involve the construction of new treated water storage reservoirs in Drimoleague, Schull, Leap and Sherkin to provide increased security of supply to customers.Existing defective water mains and water mains with insufficient capacity in Drimoleague, Castledonovan, Schull, Leap and Bluid will be replaced.

Minister of State Jim Daly joined Irish Water and Cork County Council to turn the sod on the project.

Brian Sheehan, Head of Asset Delivery, Irish Water said: “These works will provide a secure and sustainable supply of quality drinking water to Skibbereen, Drimoleague, Schull, Leap and Sherkin Island.”

Mayor of the County of Cork, Patrick Gerard Murphy commented: “The work that is getting underway will bring very significant benefits to Skibbereen and the surrounding areas for years to come.”

Minister Daly said: “This €28 million investment in water infrastructure brings very significant benefits to this community now and into the future.”