Application for an extension to Windmill Hill reservoir lodged

The solution to the water problems in Ratoath where residents have experienced two major outages since Christmas alone, has moved a step closer with the lodging of a planning application for the extension to the Windmill Hill reservoir.

Irish Water recently announced that it had started the procurement process for a major upgrade of water infrastructure in the area with an extension to the reservoir and the upgrade of 7km of old water mains which will be replaced with high density polyethylene (plastic) pipes.

The next step in the process has been taken with the lodging of the planning application for the extension to the reservoir at Windmill Hill, Irishtown, Ashbourne, which will double storage capacity and lessen the impact of any water outage due to the extra capacity.

The development consists of a new above-ground treated water reservoir on top of an earthen embankment with associated connection, scour and overflow pipework; a control building housing a secondary chlorination facility and welfare facility; an attenuation pond; (solar panels on the roof of the proposed reservoir, the roof of the proposed control building, and the roof of the existing earthen embankment rectangular reservoir; and all ancillary development including entrance on to the public road, groundworks, security fencing, lighting, landscaping, drainage system and mechanical and electrical service connections.

In recent years, there have been regular water outages causing huge problems for households in the area with eight bursts on the water mains feeding Ratoath in the last two years.

Cllr Nick Killian (below), has welcomed the lodging of a planning application and is urging Irish Water to move quickly to go to tender on the project once planning is approved.

He said: "I am absolutely delighted that Irish Water have at last shown their intent to sort out the infrastrucutre problem that exists between Windmill Hill and Ratoath with the extension to the Windmill Hill reservoir and the replacement of the pipes to Ratoath. The extension to Windmill Hill reservoir will give longer coverage during water outages. Windmill Hill is a small water tower built 40 odd years ago and this will see it double in size."

He added that the works would give people of Ratoath, and also Ashbourne, the security of knowing that water bursts aren't going to happen as they have been over the last number of years. As well as providing extra storage capacity at Windmill Hill, he said the replacement of the pipes, is also very important and that the poor state of the mains is what is leading to the frequent bursts.

When it announced in February that the procurement process had begun, Irish Water indicated that it expected contracts to deliver the project to be signed in the third quarter of this year.

As part of the project, 7km of old water mains are being replaced by high density polyethylene (plastic) pipes which Irish Water say will also address low water pressure particularly in Ratoath which are encountered during periods of peak demand and enable long term growth of Ratoath,Kilbride and Ashbourne.

The project will include construction of a new 450/350mm diameter trunk water-main that will replace the existing 300mm asbestos cement main between Windmill Hill and Ratoath which will run parallel to the existing water-main, as well as the construction of an elevated 4,700m³ circular concrete reservoir adjacent to the existing Windmill Hill concrete reservoir.