This article is from page 23 of the 2008-09-16 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 23 JPG
THE County Manager has defended the Ennis water supply.
Speaking at yesterday’s meeting of Clare Council, Alec Fleming said the temporary filtration plant at Drum- cliffe, Ennis “produces an excellent quality of water”.
Mr Fleming said that since the sys- tem was introduced two years ago there has been a massive reduction in the risk from cryptosporidiosis.
Mr. Fleming also revealed that when the permanent treatment fa- cility comes on line in Ennis, the Council will be spending €1 million a year in providing clean drinking water to the citizens of Ennis.
However Green Party council- lor Brian Meaney has called for the council to stop using the temporary facility to filter Ennis water.
Cllr Meaney said reports by the En- vironmental Protection Agency have revealed that between 15 and 30 per cent of the water supply bypasses the filtration stage. He said that by opt- ing not to use the system, the council would be sending strong message to the Department of the Environment.
“It is apparent that the membrane filtration system hasn’t worked. Giv- en the strident economic conditions I don’t think we should be throwing bad money after bad money. If we say we don’t use it, it would send a clear message to the government. We are paying for something that isn’t working,’ added Cllr Meaney.
Mr Fleming said, “It 1s my job as County Manager to bring the risk down as far as I possibly could. We are working as best as we can”.
He said that expenditure on water in the year has been “considerable”.