Irish Water plans major upgrades to several water treatment plants in the Shannonside Northern Sound region as part of new plans to enhance supply in the region.
South Roscommon is to see the most significant works take place including abstraction plans from the River Shannon to serve Athlone.
The utility has today published plans to improve the water supply for thousands of people in the region.
The plan for the Eastern and Midlands region includes a proposal to pump water from the River Shannon to the east coast.
In Study area five, it's planned to upgrade the Athlone water treatment plant to meet demand - and in Ballinasloe abstraction from the River Suck is also set to increase.
Irish water also hopes to Increase Ground Water abstraction at Mount Talbot Spring to supply deficit in the Mount Talbot and Four Roads area.
The Preferred Approach involves increasing the existing groundwater abstraction at Killeglan and Lisbrock, upgrading the associated WTPs and providing new/upgraded network to allow for the additional supply.
In Longford, one proposal is to decommission the Ballymahon water treatment plant and supply the area from Lough Forbes.
Another proposal suggests using groundwater from a source in Keenagh to connect Ballymahon and Lanesboro.
The public consultation continues until mid March with more details available www. water.ie/rwrp/easternmidlands.
