Water treatment plants in Mayo need backup generators

BACKUP generators are needed at water treatment plants in the event of power outages.

North Mayo Councillor Gerry Coyle wants contact to be made with Uisce Éireann after thousands of customers in Erris were left without water recently due to an electricity outage at the Belmullet plant.

It was preposterous, commented Councillor Neil Cruise, that millions was spent on water treatment plants in Charlestown, Foxford and Killasser and yet they had no backup generators – for an extra €20,000.

Generators were needed at every plant in the county, from the smallest to the larger towns, to keep water flowing.

It was time for them to rethink that strategy, he said.