Clare Fine Gael TD Joe Carey has today highlighted the need for an alternative water source for Ennis and its environs sooner rather than later.
Deputy Carey was speaking as the Ennis water supply faced interruptions this weekend.
Consistently in recent years Deputy Carey has called for a Plan B water supply. He repeated that call today and outlined the ongoing impracticality of fire tenders supporting the current water supply.
Deputy Carey said:
“The information I have is that the new €9 million plant was found to be unable to process the required amount of water to cater for the consumers of the Ennis Water supply over the weekend. It’s my understanding that this is due to a long protracted spell of dry weather followed by bursts of heavy rain. It’s clear weather patterns have changed and are changing, and it is critical that a town the size of Ennis is provided with an alternative reliable supply of water.
At present, fire tenders from Ennis, Scarriff and Kilrush have been deployed to help resolve the problem. This is a drain on other resources and further evidence of the impracticality of the current water supply.
Lessons must be learned from this experience. The town of Ennis and its environs, including Barefield and Clarecastle, can no longer depend on a single water source. The 30,000 consumers of the Ennis Water supply have had to tolerate many interruptions in supply for nearly six years with boil notice after boil notice. The Enstently in recent years Deputy Carey has called for a Plan B water supply. He repeated that call today and outlined the ongoing impracticality of fire tenders supporting the current water supply.
Deputy Carey said:
“The information I have is that the new €9 million plant was found to be unable to process the required amount of water to cater for the consumers of the Ennis Water supply over the weekend. It’s my understanding that this is due to a long protracted spell of dry weather followed by bursts of heavy rain. It’s clear weather patterns have changed and are changing, and it is critical that a town the size of Ennis is provided with an alternative reliable supply of water.
At present, fire tenders from Ennis, Scarriff and Kilrush have been deployed to help resolve the problem. This is a drain on other resources and further evidence of the impracticality of the current water supply.
Lessons must be learned from this experience. The town of Ennis and its environs, including