A public consultation period on the long term future of the water supply for much of east Galway has been extended to include the first week of April.
Irish Water has been working on the draft Regional Water Resource Plan Eastern and Midlands (RWRP-EM), and associated environmental reports.
This are largely encompasses counties in the east and midlands, but also includes parts of east Galway county, including Ballinasloe and Ahascragh.
The plan seeks to ensure a sustainable for the region over the short, middle, and long term of the next 25 years.
Documents related to the draft plan can be downloaded from Irish Water’s website, and public submissions can be made up to April 8.
The plan for the area including east Galway estimated that leakage reduction targets could result in 343m³ of water being saved every day in the Ahascragh, Ballinasloe, Rahan, and Athlone area.
Interim solutions in the plan would include upgrades to the Ahascragh and Ballinasloe water treatment plants, with the Ahascragh borehole refurbished.
Meeting the long term demands for the area would involve drawing more water from the River Suck to supply Ballinasloe, and developing a new ground water source for Ahascragh.
