The housing development at Milford Park in Ballinabranagh is being used for an interesting pilot scheme involving harvestable rainwater.
Three control houses are being monitored for water use at the moment, while three new rainwater harvesting facilities are being installed in a further three houses, with three more planned by the end of the year.
The main aims of the project are to quantify the amount of harvestable rainwater in an Irish location, and to quantify the water savings from same.
The project will also help develop water conservation measures to reduce the demand in rural group water schemes.
While harvested rainwater is not suitable for drinking, it can be used for flushing toilets, watering gardens and and washing laundry.
This week Cllr. Rody Kelly welcomed the project and said that he cannot wait for the results of the tests.
Meanwhile, Cllr. Mary White also welcomed the measure, and saw it as a positive step in the face of climate change.
Water is going to be our most precious resource because of climate change. Parts of the South East will be arid by 2015 if we don't do something now,' she said.
Cllr. Joe MacDonald however said that people needed to be educated about rainwater harvesting. I have two plastic drums full of rainwater, that I use on my flowers and gardens. It's all about education. I don't think it's new or super technology or anything,' he said.
The results of the project will be available in a few months time, when they will be presented to both the planning and environment SPC's of the Council.
© Carlow People
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