Water Services Project Office

The Water Services Project Office has responsibility for project management and administration of all schemes under the Water Services Investment Programme, the Rural Water Programme and more recently Development Levy Schemes are funded entirely by Sligo County Council. During 2006, a total of 46 schemes were included on these programmes with an overall cost estimate of approximately €90m.

WATER SERVICES INVESTMENT PROGRAMME 2005 – 2007

Sligo Main Drainage Wastewater Treatment Plant (DBO Project)

Contract signing took place on 18th September 2006 for a new wastewater treatment plant with a design capacity of 50,000 population equivalent to service Sligo City and its environs. The main contractor is Anglian Water International and the contract value for the design and build element of the works is approximately €22m. Detailed design of the new plant is well advanced and the contractor is expected to mobilise on the site at Finisklin in early 2007. The project is programmed for completion in October 2008.

Enniscrone Wastewater Treatment Plant(DBO Project)

Contract documents were issued on 6th September 2006 for a new 5000 population equivalent wastewater treatment plant in Enniscrone and also including the operation of six other existing plants. The tender evaluation process is well advanced and the Tender Evaluation Report is due in January 2007. The design/build phase of the scheme will cost around €4m. Pending approval from the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government the scheme is expected to commence in Qtr2 2007.

Kilsellagh Water Treatment Plant (DBO Project)

Documentation for Part 8 planning approval for a new water treatment works with a throughput capacity of 400m3/hour to supply parts of Sligo City and its environs was put on public display on 13th December 2006. Pre-qualification of contractors intending to bid for this project was completed on 10th October 2006. It is anticipated that the tender period will commence early in 2007 pending approval of the contract documents from the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government.

Tubbercurry, Grange and Strandhill Wastewater Treatment Plants (DBO Project)

Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government (DOEHLG) approval of the preliminary reports for these schemes was received in April 2006.  The Clients Representative to prepare contract documents for this bundled project was selected on 2nd November 2006. The procurement of third party surveys is currently underway and it is expected to substantially complete the tendering process for this project during 2007.

Lough Talt Regional Water Supply Scheme (DBO Project)

Upon instruction from the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government (DOEHLG), a Clients Representative was selected on 17th October 2006 to prepare a preliminary report on the upgrading of this scheme. Works have commenced on third party surveys and the draft Preliminary Report is programmed for completion in July 2007.

Ballygawley, Mullaghmore, Cliffoney and Ballinacarrow Sewerage Schemes

The procurement process for appointment of a Clients Representative to prepare preliminary reports on these schemes ended on 2nd November 2006. Fees have been agreed and the Preliminary Report is due for completion in mid 2007.

Water Conservation and Network Management Project – Ryan Hanley Carl Bro was appointed as Consultant Engineers to carry out hydraulic modeling of the public water supply network within Sligo city and county.  Data logging has been carried out on three schemes and construction of the associated models has commenced. The leakage control programme is ongoing and a mains rehabilitation programme is being developed. CiS Data Capture was completed on the water supply infrastructure and will focus on wastewater infrastructure during 2007. A modern telemetry system was installed at over 60 sites on the water supply network in the county area to facilitate remote monitoring of flow, pressure and depth. A Strategic Operational and Management Plan for water supply in Sligo city and county will also be developed during 2007.

Briefs are also being prepared for other schemes such as the expansion of the Foxes Den water treatment plant, an upgrade of the North Sligo water supply scheme and Carraroe sewerage scheme.

An Assessment of Needs for water services in Sligo City and county for the period 2007—2014 was carried out during 2006. The assessment which involved public consultation identified specific needs over the period 2007 to 2009 and examined from a strategic perspective, the main requirements for water services investment over the period 2010—2014. Following adoption by Sligo County Council this assessment was submitted to the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government and will form the basis for the Water Scheme Investment Programme 2007-2009.

DEVELOPMENT LEVY SCHEMES

Development Levy Schemes are funded entirely by Sligo County Council from development levies charged in accordance with Section 48 of the Planning and Development Act 2000. This mechanism allows the Council to provide new infrastructure thereby facilitating development that would not be feasible otherwise.

Coolaney Wastewater Treatment Plant (DB Project)

A new 2500 population equivalent wastewater treatment plant – has been constructed in the village of Coolaney. The plant became operational in October 2006 and will facilitate future development within Coolaney and provide environmental enhancement to the receiving waters in the Owenbeg River. The complete project will cost approximately €1.6m.

Dromore West Wastewater Treatment Plant (DB Project)

A 2500 population equivalent wastewater treatment plant is currently under construction in Dromore West. The plant, at a cost of €1.4m, is expected to be operational during March 2007.

The procurement of two other wastewater treatment plants funded from development levies was advanced during 2006, for the villages of Carney and Gurteen.  The contract for Carney Waste Water Treatment Plant was signed on 16th November 2006 and the detailed design process is now well advanced. The plant is due to be operational in Qtr3 2007. Part 8 documentation for Gurteen WWTP was put on public display on 29th November 2006. Pending planning approval it is anticipated that this contract will be signed in Qtr1 2007. This plant should be operational in early 2008

A number of water supply schemes funded by Sligo County Council from development levies have also been advanced during 2006; approximately 2.5km of new water mains have been installed at Ardnaglass and Grange. It is proposed to construct a new reservoir and approximately 1km of pipeline at Rockfield, Coolaney during 2007.