DTGWS Award
At the 2024 National Federation of Group Water Schemes rural water conference, held in the Hodson Bay Hotel Athlone, on the 12th September, Dysart Toonagh GWS was again for the third year in a row announced as an award winner in the 2024 Group Water Scheme Excellence Awards. Organised by the National Federation of Group Water Schemes (NFGWS), the annual awards recognise the hard work and initiative being shown by GWS across the country, in four different categories
Dysart Toonagh GWS was revealed as an award winner for ‘Quality Assurance and Water Safety Planning’ category. DTGWS demonstrated that an effective system of monitoring is being implemented across all critical control points within the supply network. The monitoring system combines a use of remote technology and manual checks to ensure that both water quality and demand levels are optimal.
Water Refill Station:
In November 2023 DTGWS installed a water bottle refill station. The refill station is situated on the school side of the carpark between the school and the community center. This is a contactless refill station that will refill your water bottle once placed on the bottle opening. We would hope that this will be well used by the school and the local community.
AGM:
The AGM was held on 14th May 2025 at 8.30 pm at the new office/meeting room in the Toonagh Community Center.
Meter Reading:
Next Meter reading will be in Jan 2026
Next Billing:
Next Invoices will be issued in Jan 2026, covering the usage from July 2025 to Dec 2025
Planned outages:
There are no planned outages - disruptions at present.
Capital Replacement:
Capital replacement works at the treatment plant was completed in November 2023.
Source Protection:
The Source Protection Survey has now been completed, and recommendations have been put forward to the Board.
De-Sludging of Septic Tanks
During 2016 our Group Water Scheme was selected by the NFGWS & the EPA to take part in a desludging project of septic tanks. The chief purpose of the project was to protect the water quality of our drinking water supply, while also assisting people to comply with the legislation of maintaining their own septic tanks
With this in mind the Dysart Toonagh Group Water Scheme are again asking shareholder to consider desludging their septic tanks. CES - Cahir Environmental Services has again undertaken to carry out desludging of Septic Tanks for Shareholders of the Scheme at a reduced rate, during the Summer months. If any shareholder wishes to avail of this service, at the reduced rate, please contact CES directly, stating that they are members of Dysart Toonagh Group Water Scheme.
The contact details for CES are 0656866850 or info@cesenvironmental.ie.
Rural Water Programme 2024 to 2026:
The Scheme has prioritised Capital works and has submitted an application for upgrade works at Killeenan/Ballybrody 1900meters, Drummeer/ Kilkee East 1880 metres, Replace Resevoir in Scoole and repair pumphouse in Cahrue. DTGWS have also applied for funding for an Ecological and riparian survey to be carried out at Ballycullinan Lake, Corofin, the GWS source
Toonagh School Tour:
As part of an ongoing commitment to environmental education students from Toonagh National School recently completed a very informative tour of the water scheme and surrounds.
In June 2025 DTGWS manager Matthew Rynne along with the Claire Nangle from the NFGWS visited the 5th and 6th classes of Toonagh National School. Adrian gave a presentation on the importance and necessity of water and Matthew gave a presentation on the history of the DTGWS and all the work carried out in bringing water from source to tap . The class were then taken to visit the DTGWS source at Ballycullinan lake and the importance of source protection (as discussed in the school presentation) was highlighted to them here. It is easier to show them the large area the zone of contribution covers rather than just showing them a map of the area in the presentation.
Next they were given a tour of the treatment plant In Soheen Dysart and the process been completed there to get the water to a level safe for human consumption. The Treatment plant tour finished off with a question and answer session . On return to Toonagh School, the class were shown how a scour valve works on the network and how to test the chlorine residual levels. DTGWS then presented the class with reusable drinking bottles with the DTGWS logo on them.
Check your meter regularly:
All shareholders are urged to regularly check their water meters. Care should be taken when inspecting meters at the roadside,
High Visibility Vest should be worn and it is extremely important that the inspection covers be replaced properly.
Rural Water Conference:
The National Federation Group Water Scheme Annual Conference will be held on 11th of September 2025 in Athlone. All details and presentations are available on nfgws.ie