Donegal County Council has angrily denounced claims that the water supply in Letterkenny is contaminated.
There were claims earlier this week that water being pumped to homes in the town might not be safe to drink but the council says this is simply untrue.
In a strongly worded statement today, the council said it wish to reassure the public that the drinking water supply in Letterkenny is safe for consupmtion and that there is no risk to public health.
The statement goes on: “Water for Letterkenny is currently obtained from a combination of groundwater and surface water sources. All these sources are subject to continous monitoring and disinfection, with the final waters from all sources combined to give a water suppply that is of high standard and safe for human consumption.
“This includes a programme of monitoring for Cryptosporidium of any Letterkenny source considered potentially at risk of contamination and which has been agreed with the Environmental Protection Agency (E.P.A) and the Health Sevice Executive (H.S.E.). No cause of concern has ever been found as a result of this monitoring.
“Furthermore, the Council would like to reassure the public that in the event of any contamination of the water supply that may pose a risk to public health the Council has clear communication policies and practices that would be activated in conjunction with all relevant authorities, including the H.S.E., the E.P.A. and the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government.
“In such instances the public will of course be informed immediately as appropriate using written notices and press releases.”
The statement continued: “In relation to ongoing quality control, the public should be reassured to know that the HSE’s Environmental Health Officers carry out an independent sampling and testing service on all of Donegal County Council’s public supplies to monitor compliance with current drinking water standards. The Council also carries out its own testing regime.
“The Council make that information availabe to the public via ongoing reporting to the EPA (which is published in the Annual Drinking Water Report) but also the Water Quality results are posted on an ongoing basis on the Councils website.
“Work is also progressing on the Council’s Capital Programme in conjunction with the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government in relation to a Direction issued to the Council by the EPA which calls for upgrade in the treatment process (including barrier protection against cryptosporidium). Works are likely to involve significant capital expenditure and will be delivered over the coming years.
“The Council has been working closely with the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government and the EPA to progress all works listed on the Remedial Action List and will continue to do this.
“The following is a brief outline of ongoing remedial works in relation to the various supplies which are on the EPA Remedial Action List:
* Ballyshannon – Works complete
* Burnfoot – Pipeline interconnector complete and switchover to alternative supply imminent.
* Cashilard – Pilot water treatment process under testing.
* Fintown – Contract documents for interconnector pipeline and pumping station works to alternative supply under preparation.
* Greencastle – Interconnector pipelines to alternative supply under construction. Contract documents for augmentation from alternative supply under preparation.
* Portnoo-Narin – Interconnector pipelines to alternative supply completed. Augmentation from alternative supply planned.
* Rathmullan – Preliminary design of interconnector pipelines and pumping stations to alternative supplies completed.
* Donegal Eske – Currently compliant.
* Gortahork Falcarragh – Tender recommendation for water treatment plant upgrade works completed. Monitoring compliance underway.
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