Navan Mid-Meath Liscarton water supply removed from EPA’s Remedial Action List

03 August 2021

Almost 32,000 domestic and business customers supplied by the Navan Mid-Meath Liscarton water supply received good news this week following the removal of their water supply by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from its list of ‘at risk’ supplies.

Significant upgrades carried out at the Liscarton Water Treatment Plant meant the Navan Mid-Meath Liscarton public water supply scheme could be removed from the Remedial Action List (RAL) for addressing risks to water quality and providing sludge treatment facilities on site.

The RAL identifies drinking water supplies that are ‘at risk’ of failing to consistently supply safe, clean drinking water. Following upgrade works by Uisce Éireann working in partnership with Meath County Council, the EPA has removed the supply from the RAL as the water supply is no longer at risk. Works were delivered on behalf of Uisce Éireann by Veolia Water Ireland Limited.

Uisce Éireann has invested €9 million in the upgrade works. These included upgrades to the raw water intake works and clarification and filtration processes, installation of additional process infrastructure, new sludge and washwater treatment facilities and upgraded telemetry and management systems. These upgrade works will improve security of supply and quality of water for customers in Navan and surrounding areas including Dunderry, Kilberry and Gibbstown ensuring water is compliant with current drinking water regulations.

Speaking about the scheme’s removal from the RAL, Denise Treacy, Uisce Éireann said: “Uisce Éireann is committed to ensuring that all of our customers have safe, clean drinking water. Our team of operational, drinking water compliance and project delivery experts worked in partnership with Meath County Council to address the issues affecting the Navan Mid-Meath Liscarton public water supply scheme bringing it to a standard where the EPA determined that it could be removed from the RAL."

“The publication of the latest Remedial Action List confirms that significant progress has been made in recent years in the delivery of clean and safe drinking water in Ireland. The removal of two supplies benefitting over 650,000 domestic and business customers across the Greater Dublin Area (Leixlip supply) and the Navan Mid-Mid Meath Liscarton supply area represents significant investment and commitment by Uisce Éireann working in partnership with Local Authorities. The addition of six new supplies to the list this quarter is a reflection of the higher standards to which water supplies are now being assessed and demonstrates that we are gaining a better understanding of risks through our drinking water safety plan approach, and are communicating these risks to the EPA. In many areas, the scale of the challenge faced by Uisce Éireann in ensuring the delivery of clean and safe water remains and we have ambitious plans to continue investing in water quality in the years ahead.”

The removal of the Leixlip and the Navan Mid-Meath Liscarton supplies will benefit over 650,000 people. Six schemes have been added to the RAL: Nenagh Regional, Burncourt Ballylooby, Clare Island, Kereen, Carlow Regional, West Clare (old) WTP. In total a population of over 650,000 has been removed and almost 32,000 people added. Uisce Éireann has a prioritised programme of investment for all schemes on the list.

Uisce Éireann continues to work at this time with our Local Authority partners, contractors and others to safeguard the health and well-being of both staff and the public and to ensure the continuity of critical drinking water and wastewater services. Uisce Éireann would like to remind people to follow the HSE COVID-19 advice and ensure frequent handwashing.

Uisce Éireann is committed to keeping customers informed about their water and wastewater supplies across multiple platforms 24/7 and we encourage customers to engage with us on our Twitter channels @IWCare and @IrishWater, on Facebook and LinkedIn, through our customer care helpline which is open 24/7 on 1800 278 278 and by setting their location on our website.