Glenties-Ardara residents using “at risk” water since 2008

Residents in Glenties-Ardara, Lettermacaward, and Milford were using “at-risk” water supplies in 2024, according to a new Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) report. 

An issue at Glenties-Ardara has been listed to be improved for 17 years. 

The Remedial Action List for 2024 in the EPA’s Drinking Water Quality in Public Supplies 2024 report includes three Donegal locations and details supplies that are non-compliant with standards. 

In Glenties-Ardara, a servicing area with an affected population of 3,459 people, an issue with the water supply has been on the Remedial Action List since 2008, and isn’t due for a completion date on the action plan until September 2025.

An installation of a membrane filtration system to address raw water colour, organic content, and to minimise trihalomethanes (THM) formation is the action that is proposed in Glenties-Ardara to bring the water supply up to compliance standards. ,

READ NEXT: Lack of social housing in rural Donegal ‘pushing’ people out of communities

Milford’s water supply system is due for an upgrade filtration and has been listed on the remedial action list since the end of 2021, and is due to be completed in June 2026.

In Lettermacaward an upgrade of the water treatment plant was due to be completed in December 2024 after being put on the remedial action list in early 2022. 

The report also noted Donegal locations that had a boil water and water restriction notice that took place in 2024.

Frosses-Inver had a six-day notice in October 2024 that affected 4,474 people due to mechanical and process issues. Glenties-Ardara had a notice period which lasted for 16 days in December 2024 due to turbidity. Turbidity in water refers to the cloudiness or haziness caused by particles. 

Lough Mourne, on the N15 south of Ballybofey, had a month-long notice in August 2024 because of an E. coli warning. The notice affected a population of 28.