'Second largest parish in Ireland' needs generator for water supply
Cllr Adrian Forkan has called on the operator of the treatment plan to install a generator.
A councillor says a generator is badly needed to keep a local water supply going in Killasser.
Fianna Fáil Cllr Adrian Forkan said supply is more vulnerable in the heavily forested area and frequent power outages are having an impact on local people.
The water treatment plant was constructed by the Coffey Group in conjunction with Mayo County Council.
However, the company operates the plant and Cllr Forkan proposed that the council write to the Coffey Group asking it to invest a “few thousand euro” in a generator.
“There was a big power outage in Killasser through Storm Isha and I had several representations from people,” he told a meeting of Claremorris-Swinford Municipal District. “It is the second biggest parish in the country and it would keep schools open.”
Cllr Forkan said more than €1 million was spent on the treatment plant, which also services Sonnagh in Charlestown, Attymachugh near Foxford and parts of Swinford town.
“It is very hard to believe in this day and age there is no generator that would kick in when the power is off,” he said. “There are two schools and an area of 50 kilometres of pipe. It is one of the biggest water schemes in the country.”
Councillors and senior engineer Conrad Harley agreed to write a letter to the operator.
