Irish Water connects Fintown water customers to Glenties supply following €1.1m investment

Water consumers in the Fintown area of Co Donegal have benefited from a €1.1 million investment by Irish Water which has connected the Fintown water supply to the Glenties supply to ensure improved water quality to the Fintown area.

As part of the project Irish Water has constructed almost 5km of water mains in the Glenties, Fintown and Meenahalla areas as well as the construction of two booster pumping stations.

The Fintown supply is on the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Remedial Action List (RAL) for high levels of THMs and these works were undertaken to reduce the risk posed by THMs for these customers.

The works consisted of the construction of 1km of water mains in Fintown, 2.9km in Glenties and 800m in Meenahalla. Two booster pumping stations were also constructed at Shallogans and Straboy.

Commenting, Irish Water’s Capital Programme Lead John McElwaine said: “These important works for the Fintown area have just been completed and consumers in the Fintown area are now served from the Glenties Water Supply. These works will improve the quality of water in the Fintown area and reduce the risk posed by THMs to these customers.”

Irish Water has put in place the first national THM plan and a prioritised programme of investment to address all inadequacies in drinking water parameters including THMs. By 2021 the utility plans to reduce the number of schemes on the RAL to zero with an investment of €327 million in upgrading water supplies at risk from THMs.

THMs, or trihalomethanes are chemicals formed by the reaction of naturally occurring dissolved organic material with chlorine which is used for disinfection in order to protect against pathogenic bacteria.

This project forms part of Irish Water’s investment plan where works have been prioritised to address the most critical issues in line with commitments outlined in Irish Water’s business plan. Delivery of the business plan will involve a €5.5bn investment in capital spending on drinking water and wastewater quality and capacity and new infrastructure up to 2021.