Skibbereen Regional Water Supply Scheme Upgrade

Uisce Éireann has completed the regional upgrade of the water supply and treatment infrastructure in Skibbereen & Environs, Co. Cork.

Uisce Éireann, working in partnership with Cork County Council, has completed an upgrade to the regional water supply network and treatment facilities in the Skibbereen and Environs Region. This investment provides a safe, secure and reliable supply of drinking water to over 10,000 people in the region.

This project addresses risks to water quality by providing enhanced treatment facilities at both Ballyhilty Water Treatment Plant (WTP) and Lake Cross WTP, located near Skibbereen. It has rationalised vulnerable sources and inadequate treatment facilities at Leap (Ballinlough WTP), Schull (Skeagh WTP) and Drimoleague, through an extensive regional water network upgrade and expansion. The network upgrade included the provision of over 35km of new watermains and associated pumping stations. The project provides increased security of supply through the provision of additional service reservoirs at Schull, Leap, Sherkin Island and Castledonovan. EPS Group Ltd. have carried out the works on behalf of Uisce Éireann.

This project included:

• Upgrade of two water treatment plants (Ballyhilty and Lake Cross);
• Construction of new reservoirs for treated water at Castledonavan, Leap, Schull and Sherkin Island;
• Installation of over 35km of new water mains and pumping stations; and
• Decommissioning of three vulnerable sources and associated water treatment plants (Drimoleague, Skeagh and Ballinlough).

This completed project:

• Improves the quality of the water being supplied to Skibbereen and the surrounding areas;
• Safeguards the water supply for over 10,000 people in the region;
• Ensures a reliable water supply by providing additional storage facilities and replacing watermains;
• Removes Schull and Leap water supplies from the EPA's Remedial Action List (RAL);
• Ensures compliance with current drinking water regulations.