Minister for Environment Alan Kelly TD this morning officially opened the upgraded Water Treatment Plant at Boyle Co. Roscommon following the lifting of a Boil Water Notice for the town by Irish Water at the beginning of May.

Providing this significant improvement in drinking water quality for 6,000 customers in Boyle has been the first step in an integrated programme to resolve all outstanding Boil Water Notices in Co. Roscommon in 2015. This has been achieved though a dedicated prioritised programme of work and a total investment by Irish Water of €26.8m.

Work on the Boyle Ardcarne Regional Water Supply Scheme which was completed by Irish Water in December 2014, 7 months ahead of schedule, overseeing the contract secured by Roscommon County Council in late 2013. Following the required period of audit and testing by the Environment Protection Agency and the Health Services Executive, final certification of the treated drinking water supply in Boyle/Ardcarne was confirmed following a final inspection at the end of April and the boil water notice was officially lifted on 1st May.

Boil water notices in Castlerea and South Roscommon (Killeglan) for a further 11,300 customers are expected to be lifted in the coming weeks also due to Irish Water’s prioritised work programme. These 2 plants are in full production and are undergoing continuous testing and final audits. An additional 5,400 customers in North East Roscommon are also expected to have a temporary UV treatment system in place by September 2015 that could allow the boil water notice to be lifted in advance of full completion of the permanent water supply scheme in that area in early 2017. This would restore a normal drinking water supply to customers in Strokestown, Elphin, Roosky and Tarmonbarry and surrounds, for the first time since March, 2014. Prioritised investment of €26.8m by Irish Water in Roscommon will therefore provide clean secure drinking water supply to more than 22,700 customers in the county by late 2015.

John Tierney Managing Director of Irish Water, speaking at the launch said “Dealing with the boil water notices endured by thousands of customers in Roscommon has been a top priority since Irish Water came into existence. The contract for this work was secured by Roscommon County Council in late 2013 and Irish Water as a national water utility has been able to fast-track and co-ordinate the completion of this and other projects in Co. Roscommon so that Boil Water Notices will be lifted by nearly 23,000 customers in Roscommon by the end of this year. We acknowledge the work of the contractors and Roscommon County Council in helping us to achieve this.”

Officially opening the Boyle plant, Minister Alan Kelly TD said, “Today is what the Government’s water sector reform is all about: improving the quality of life of communities throughout Ireland. The opening of this plant is the culmination of focused work by Irish Water, Roscommon County Council and private sector partners. I am pleased to see the output of the new partnership between Irish Water and Roscommon County Council, resulting in the lifting of a boil water notice for some six thousand people in the area. Irish Water is making progress on tackling long standing problems with drinking water in the county through its investment. I welcome this.”

Boil water notices are being lifted in Roscommon at the same time that three other new water treatment plants at Lisbrock in south Roscommon, Ballinagard serving Roscommon town and Ballyfarnon serving Arigna, are close to completion. These supplies are currently on the EPA Remedial Action List and ‘at risk’ of boil water notices being issued. This risk will be removed when all 3 plants are fully commissioned by mid-2015, further securing a high quality drinking water supply for Co. Roscommon.