Water supply ‘may close’ tourist town

POPULAR tourist town Kenmare is in danger of being closed down in the event its water supply is being contaminated by cryptosporidium, a senior Kerry County Council manager has warned.

Director of water services, Oliver Ring, said the council and its officers faced the possibility of being prosecuted for not providing a quality water supply to the Kenmare area.

Commercial and large planning permissions are currently curtailed as there is not enough water to supply the town, where hundreds of houses have been built since the 1990s.

Meanwhile, there is ongoing disagreement about supplementary sources for a new water scheme, with strong objections to proposals to take water from the River Sheen.

Kenmare gets its water from a mountain lake near Moll’s Gap. Around €250,000 has been spent on consultants’ reports and assessments, but their recommendations have been rejected by councillors.

Farmers and residents of the Bonane area are also objecting, fearing further restrictions on farming practices and planning for housing if water is abstracted from the Sheen.

Mr Ring, however, urged councillors to at least put the Sheen option out for public consultation and then to allow An Bord Pleanála to decide.