Concerns have been raised over plans to close the Cairns Hill water treatment and distribution works in Sligo.

Fianna Fáil TD for Sligo-Leitrim, Marc MacSharry, said the closure will put major pressure on the water system in and around the greater Sligo area, and could jeopardise inward investment and jobs in the region.

Irish Water plans to close the plant on the 12 June, which means the entire Sligo, Strandhill and Ballisodare will be solely reliant on the Foxes Den facility.

Deputy Mac Sharry also called for Foxes Den to be upgraded before the Cairns Hill facility closes.

Deputy Mac Sharry said: "It is completely nonsensical to shut down one of the main water facilities before any necessary upgrades are carried out. Sligo is already running at full capacity with the two existing water plants, and there will be serious issues once the Cairns Hill site is closed. This will have a major impact on the ability of the area to attract new investment opportunities. The majority of business and housing developments are depending on a secure water infrastructure, and as a result of Irish Water's failure to upgrade the facility at Foxes Den before closing Cairns Hill, the infrastructure in Sligo and the surrounding areas is simply not up to scratch.

"I first became aware of this threat in January 2016, and I brought forward a Private Members Motion in the Seanad that month. Then Minister Ged Nash failed to give any assurances on the matter but in April last year Irish Water issued a press statement announcing the upgrade of the Foxes Den which would cater for current and substantial additional capacity. It claimed the works would take nine months to carry out and would commence in May 2016.

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"Despite no upgrade work being carried out, Irish Water is still pushing ahead with the closure of the Cairns Hill site in June. This will leave Sligo at full capacity with no future commercial development potential. The bottom here line is the Cairns Hill closure will further exasperate the increasing state neglect of our area and their discriminatory actions which underpin our inability to perform to our potential and provide badly needed employment and housing."

However, Irish Water said Foxes Den currently produces 9,600m3/D over 20 hours and 11,500 m3/D over 24 hours. Cairns Hill provides only 2,500 m3/D into production.

In a statement the firm said: "Foxes Den WTW is a modern plant which has the adequate barriers required for delivering quality water. Providing additional capacity at this plant was found to be more cost effective than trying to completely refurbish the older Cairns Hill plant. The current treatment process at the Cairns Hill WTP results in the scheme being at risk of failure to meet all drinking water quality standards and the scheme is listed for remedial action by the Environmental Protection Agency.

"This upgrade will allow for the decommissioning of the Cairns Hill WTP and removal from the EPA’s Remedial Action List.

"Irish Water is investing in the rehabilitation of water mains in Sligo, which will reduce the demands on the treatment plants. In February 2017 Irish Water signed a contract for the Sligo City Water Main Rehabilitation (8.7km) and Pearse Road Sewer Network (1.5km) Project which will involve the replacement and rehabilitation of ageing water mains, installation of new sewers and replacement of all service connections. This represents a €6.8 million investment by Irish Water in Sligo City. Work has commenced on this project.

"The project will benefit residents and businesses by reducing leakage and bursts and improving water quality and supply to consumers. This will also create additional capacity by reducing leakage in the Sligo & Environs Network.

"In July 2016 Irish Water announced details of the €1.25 million O’Connell Street Water Main and Sewer Rehabilitation Works project which will improve water supply and water quality to the O'Connell Street area of Sligo and improve the condition of the existing combined sewer culvert that runs north to south along the street. The final stage of this project has been signed off and will commence in the coming weeks.

"Irish Water has recently reviewed enquiries in relation to the provision of additional water within Sligo and is satisfied that adequate water supply capacity exists.

"There are over 900 Water Treatment Plants in the Republic of Ireland. This is far too many e.g. Northern Ireland has approximately 22 plants. It makes perfect sense to rationalise and decommission older expensive to run plants and to connect to larger more robust plants that can deliver reliable quality water supplies. The upgrading of the modern Foxes Den Plant in Sligo to provide for the immediate and future needs of the consumers in the area and the decommissioning of Cairns Hill is in line with this policy."

(CD/LM)