RURAL WATER NEWS Magazine of the Group Water Scheme Sector Summer 2013 Volume 15 Issue 2 ZOC delineation gets go-ahead for funding NFGWS welcomes ‘important source protection initiative’ A recommendation that vital first step in formulating schemes where their water is completed through the Centre Rural Water Programme targeted and effective source coming from and (for those for Freshwater Studies at funding be provided protection strategies, a 5-year with groundwater sources) Dundalk Institute of towards the delineation of programme has been agreed the direction that their water Technology (surface catch - drinking water source that will see the completion of is flowing. ments) and the Geological catchments has been adopt - zone of contribution (ZOC) It will also point to particular Survey of Ireland (ground- ed by the Department of the delineation for some 290 areas of vulnerability within a water catchments). Environment, Community group water schemes that have catchment so that informed It is expected that the & Local Government. yet to complete such work. decisions can be made in rela - NFGWS and these institutions Responding to the case In simple terms, this project tion to possible protective will have an ongoing role in made by the NFGWS through will facilitate essential invest - measures and future planning. organising the work of those the National Rural Water ment in the most critical ele - Pilot models adopted professionals who will com - Services Committee that accu - ment of GWS infrastructure – The ZOC delineation project plete the delineation work. rate catchment mapping is a the source. It will inform is modelled on pilot projects Continued on page 4 In this issue: Page Comment ........................................ 3 Pesticides advice note issued by EPA ................................................ 3 NFGWS welcomes ‘important source protection initiative’ ............ 4 Chairperson seminars prove a success ............................................ 4 Kilmeena school champions community water awareness .......... 6 Septic tanks info campaign underway ........................................ 7 Federation submission to Nitrates Programme review .......................... 8 Leitrim Co. Co. considers the future of 180 group schemes .......... 9 Comparison of water charges across local authorities and the GWS sector .................................. 10 GWS invited to be part of research project ............................ 11 TCD study shines spotlight on contamination of well sources .... 12 On the water front ...................... 13 Water on the brain: reminiscences of a GWS activist ........................ 14 Perched in an upland area on the lower slopes of Errigal mountain, the recently-completed water treatment plant supplying Meenabool GWS in Co. Donegal includes sand filtration and chlorine disinfection. In an area of out - What’s new in the water industry.. 18 standing natural beauty, camouflaging has been used to ensure that the structures aren’t visible from a distance. Regional reports ........................ 19 Rural Water News Summer 2013 OFFICIAL INSTRUMENTUMENTAAATIONTION DISTRIBUTOR SITRANS F SITRANS Transmitters - Flow Meters fforor all Applications & Industries - Compact Single-Range Transmitters - Measures Liquids, Gas & Steam - Absolute & Gauge Pressure XPS ULULTRTRASONIC SITRANS LUT 400 SERIES Transducers CONTROLLERS - Levels in a Wide Range of Liquids & Solids -Compact, Single Point, Long Range - XRS5 - Monitoring of Liquids & Slurries -Lever or VVolumeolume, Liquids & Solids 2 Rural Water News Summer 2013 While there maCy be ocynmicism mat thee seenmint gly endless and Pesticides advice costly events hosted by what might be termed a ‘conferencing industry’, the educational and motivational potential of confer - ences and seminars that are designed by practitioners for prac - note issued by EPA titioners cannot be undervalued. Ireland’s Environmental processes at the water treat - The recent highly successful EPA conference on water and Protection agency (EPA) ment plant. wastewater is a case in point. This provided delegates with has issued a new advice Indeed, conventional treat - food for thought on a range of issues addressed by experts who note (no. 13) to provide ment processes used in were also fine speakers. Full marks to the organisers. guidance to Water Services Ireland cannot remove pesti - For group water schemes, the annual Rural Water Conference Authorities (WSAs) where cides, so this parameter has to organised jointly by the Water Services Training Group and be dealt with by prevention. the NFGWS is poised, yet again, to deliver a programme that pesticides have been detect - is both varied, interesting and informative (see page 32). ed in drinking water and on Entry As in recent years, the Board of the Federation is subsidising the actions that should be Pesticides can enter surface the attendance of delegates from affiliated schemes. taken in such an event. or ground water bodies used You’d be mad to miss it! While the number of drink - as sources for drinking water *** ing water supplies with pesti - supplies through direct appli - Leaving aside the direct criticism of Irish Water levelled by at cide exceedances has been cation, run-off, spray drift, least one councillor, the points raised at a meeting of Leitrim low, there has been a worry - volatilisation or by seeping County Council (page 9) on the future of publicly sourced ing increase in recent years. through the soil. group water schemes must continue to be addressed, as any Through its advice note, the They may also enter as uncertainty about the future of this large sector will only EPA aims to minimise the source point inputs from pes - encourage further negativity and fear. potential for entry of pesti - ticide handling areas from *** cides into water at source, mixing, filling, washing, Rural Water News makes no apologies for again highlighting through catchment protec - spillage and leakage. the excellent work being carried out by the pupils of St tion, rather than having to Advice note no. 13 can be Brendan’s National School in Kilmeena in raising community remove them via treatment accessed at www.epa.ie . awareness about the value of water (page 6). As Mayo County Manager, Peter Hynes has pointed out, the example being provided by this rural school could (and Water Well Drilling should) be replicated in schools across Ireland. Since first completing the All About Water curriculum – in Water Quality Improvements at Source conjunction with their local group water scheme – St One of the most important tasks for any group water Brendan’s school has built up an extensive partnership net - scheme is to consider the performance of your work to promote the simple, yet powerful, message that water is a resource worth respecting and protecting. groundwater source in terms of quality and quantity. The success of extra-curricular environmental awareness pro - • Low-cost trial drilling can establish water supply grammes – as part of the wonderful Green Flags initiative in and water quality prior to developing production our primary schools – is down to having interested teachers and well/treatment system specification. a supportive principal. St Brendan’s has both. We warmly • Cement-sealed wells prevent shallow surface-water applaud their efforts and we recommend their example to other entering a supply, reducing the risk of contamination. educationalists. • An inert uPVC casing/ screen or stainless steel Rural Water News is published by the National Federation screen with gravel pack of Group Water Schemes. For further information, go to between screen section www.nfgws.ie or contact one of our offices: Monaghan and open hole helps pre - (00-353-47-72766); Kiltimagh (00-353-94-9381802); vent the ingress of silt/ Tuam (00-353-93-28712; Tullamore (00-353-57-9328068) . sand into a water supply . Disclaimer Contact the experienced pro - While every care has been taken to ensure that the information fessionals contained in this publication is up to date and correct, no Patrick Briody & Sons Ltd responsibility will be taken by the National Federation of Group Water Schemes for any error that might occur. Briody Aquadrill Services While we are grateful for the support of our advertisers, The Grove readers should note that inclusion of an advertisement does not Rathangan, Co. Kildare imply any form of recommendation. Tel. 045-524360 or 087-2589313 We try to ensure the reliability of advertisers, but Rural Fax 045-524785 Water News cannot accept liability for the quality of goods and Web: www.briodydrilling.com services offered. 3 Rural Water News Summer 2013 NFGWS welcomes ‘important source protection initiative’ Continued from cover page administered through the Besides ensuring that a con - county councils and arrange - sistent approach is adopted, ments for draw-down are this will assist those expert currently being finalised. hydrogeologists and other Besides any financial out - professionals involved by lay, this will be a two-way providing them with a clear process and schemes (assist - reporting framework. ed by NFGWS development Support officers) will be expected to Grant aid at 85% up to a collate as much information € maximum cost of 3,000 can as possible about their be drawn down by schemes source in advance of the towards the professional expert arriving on site. assessment and report. This In the case of boreholes, means that the maximum for example, this will outlay for a GWS should be include