Increased reservoir capacity needed to solve Achill water issues

CAPACITY for a proposed new reservoir in Achill needs to be increased if water outages are to be eliminated.

Some parts of the parish were without water for four days recently after two leaks occurred.

Local Councillor Paul McNamara raised the issue at a municipal district meeting, saying if this had happened during peak season 'we would have had a serious problem on our hands'.

He acknowledged investment that has taken place, including a new reservoir.

At the moment there is only three to four hours storage on site and the new reservoir would add another two.

The problem, explained Councillor McNamara, is that six hours storage is insufficient. Most of the neighbouring hinterland has 24 hours storage.

“The proposed reservoir is not fit for purpose and it will not solve the problem,” he stated.

A bigger reservoir would go a long way to solving the problems in the area.

Municipal district head Padraic Walsh agreed that 24 hours is 'best practice'.