Ballina and Lough Talt Water Supply Upgrade Project

The proposed Ballina and Lough Talt Water Supply Upgrade project involves plans to enhance the security and resilience of the water supply in Ballina and surrounding areas in North Mayo and the Lough Talt supply area in South Sligo.

This project will benefit approximately 35,000 people, ensuring a reliable and sustainable water supply for Ballina, Bonniconlon, Tubbercurry, and surrounding areas as well as allowing for future social economic growth and development in the region.

• The project is needed to provide a safe and reliable water supply to Ballina and surrounding areas, while also supporting future growth and development. The proposed upgrades will increase capacity in the supply network, allowing Uisce Éireann to extend the Ballina network to areas currently served by the Lough Talt Water Supply Scheme, which is not sustainable long-term.
• Additional storage will be built at Lisglennon to enhance the security of supply for Ballina and Bonniconlon. New storage facilities will also be provided at Lough Talt to ensure a stable water supply for South Co. Sligo.
• Large parts of Ballina Town are currently served by a critical aging trunk main, which will be replaced to improve the reliability of the water supply.
• Furthermore, the rationalisation of the Lough Talt Water Treatment Plant will put an end to water abstraction from Lough Talt, restoring natural lake levels and providing significant ecological benefits to local habitats and wildlife.

The project will deliver a number of key benefits to the existing water infrastructure and network, including:

• Enabling future growth and development in the community and cater for an expected increase in population in the area.
• Addressing both current and future water supply challenges in the region.
• The rationalisation of the Lough Talt Water Treatment Plant will put an end to abstraction from Lough Talt, helping to restore natural lake levels and deliver significant ecological benefits for local habitats and wildlife.
• The proposed project includes an upgraded raw water intake from Lough Conn, additional treatment capacity at Lisglennon Water Treatment Plant, and new treated water storage at Lisglennon, Bonniconlon and Lough Talt. These upgrades will significantly improve the resilience of the network and enhance long-term security of supply across North Mayo and South Sligo.

The proposed project will involve the following works including:

• Upgrades to Wherrew raw water intake
• Upgrades to Lisglennon raw water pumping station
• Construction of a trunk main from Lisglennon WTP to Bonniconlon Booster Pump Station (BPS)
• Construction of a booster pumping station near Bonniconlon
• Construction of a treated water reservoir in Bonniconlon
• Construction of a rising main from booster pump station to Windy Gap   
• Construction of a transfer main from Windy Gap to existing Lough Talt WTP site    
• Construction of a new Reservoir and treatment facilities at Lough Talt
• Expansion and upgrades to Lisglennon Water Treatment Plant
• Provision of new treated water storage at Lisglennon WTP

Yes, the Ballina and Lough Talt Water Supply Upgrade project is considered Strategic Infrastructure Development (SID) under the Planning and Development Act (2000) and a planning application will be made directly to An Coimisiún Pleanála (previously known as An Bord Pleanála).

SID projects can generally be described as any development which is of strategic economic or social importance to the state or a region. The SID application for this project will include an Environmental Impact Assessment Report, Natura Impact Statement, as well as other relevant planning documents.

The Water Environment (Abstractions and Associated Impoundments) Act 2022 was signed into law on 28 August 2024. The new abstraction legislation includes a provision to expand the classes of development within the Seventh Schedule of the Planning and Development Act (2000) (i.e. SID classes) to include surface water abstractions. The proposed surface water abstraction levels at Lough Conn are in excess of the above threshold, therefore the proposed development at Lough Conn is considered likely to qualify as SID.

Yes, Uisce Éireann will be undertaking a non-statutory public consultation to provide local residents, businesses and any other stakeholders with information on the proposed development. The public consultation will run for a period of 4 weeks, from Tuesday 24 March to Monday 20 April, 2026. We will also be holding a face-to-face public information event in the local area where you can meet the project team and ask any questions you may have on the proposed project. Details of the event are as follows:

There are various options to provide feedback and have your say:

• Provide written feedback via email to ballinaloughtaltwsz@water.ie.
• Attend the public information event where you can meet the project team and ask any questions you may have on the proposed project.

Public information event (in person): 
Date: Wednesday, 15 April 2026  
Time: 4pm – 8pm  
Venue: Kennedy Glasgow House, Quay Rd, Quignamanger, Ballina, Co. Mayo, F26 RH58

For further information on the survey, the project, and/or consultation, please see the project website or email ballinaloughtaltwsz@water.ie.

Please note, the deadline for submission of feedback is midnight on Monday 20 April 2026. Responses received after this time will not be considered.

Uisce Éireann is engaging with the local community and stakeholders regarding the proposed project through a non-statutory consultation process before the formal planning application is submitted.

The project is considered Strategic Infrastructure Development (SID) under the Planning and Development Act (2000) and a planning application will be made directly to An Coimisiún Pleanála (previously known as An Bord Pleanála).

Approximate key timelines are as follows:

• Planning application – submission end Q2 2026