Rural group water scheme denied funding in Co. Leitrim
A group water scheme (GWS) in Co. Leitrim has been denied funding for a UV treatment and a PH corrector, according to Sinn Féin councillor for Ballinamore, Brendan Barry.
The Mohercregg GWS has a water source 320m up on the Sliabh an Iarainn mountain. The water is captured in pipes, and treated with silver and copper, before serving 100 houses, a national school, a pub, and a creche.
"The well is up high in forestry, but Coillte owns the forestry around it. It clear felled the forestry and didn’t replant near the well.
"The only animals you have up there is a few sheep on the commonage, it’s a real clean source of water," Cllr Barry said.
According to the councillor, the GWS sought funding from the multi annual rural water fund to amalgamate with another small group scheme of five or six houses.
"The expert panel who looked at the funding request found it wasn’t sustainable and that they should consider handing it over to Irish water," Barry explained.
"If [Uisce Éireann] took it over, [it would] be spending €1,000,000 or €2,000,000 to put in pipes and pumps and that would bring water out of the river Shannon and Carrick-on-Shannon.
"These people are taking water off the mountain through gravity, and they’re only looking for another €100,000 to do the treatment," he added.
The Sinn Féin councillor raised the issue at March's Leitrim County Council meeting.
"I put in a motion for the council to put pressure on [the Minister for Housing, James Browne] and [the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage] to provide this funding for the scheme," he said.
"I don’t see how you could get any more sustainable than bringing a water source down from the mountain."
According to Cllr. Barry, the locals "love their water source".
"When the electricity was out all these farms and houses had water because they didn’t need electric.
"They want to keep their source in the mountain.
"They have invested a lot of money. They put up their own money and pay towards the scheme for their own water. They just want a bit of funding," he added.
