UISCE ÉIREANN have been labelled as “a law onto themselves” with the ongoing failure to provide safe drinking water in West Clare slammed by elected representatives.
In a proposal before the West Clare Municipal District, Cllr Ian Lynch (IND) called for “an urgent meeting with Uisce Éireann following complete failure to provide safe drinking water for prolonged periods in during May and June”.
He said, “this is having a major impact on residents, and businesses in West Clare. Uisce Éireann don’t have a handle on the situation nor an effective communication strategy”.
Senior executive officer in the West Clare MD, John O’Malley confirmed he would write to Uisce Éireann on behalf of the elected members requesting a meeting.
Speaking on Tuesday, Cllr Lynch commented, “This has been going on for ages, I know it is a waste of time but even today contacted I was contacted from people in Labasheeda”. He said a publican noticed her machine was “ruined” after the water inside it went brown.
Prompt and efficient communication is lacking from Uisce Éireann, he said. “We need to know straight away if there’s a problem not in four days time. There’s absolutely no communication from Irish Water, they are atrocious, they talk about text alerts, as a public body or semi-state body I don’t know what they are but they are a law onto themselves”.
“They are costing everyone money and grief, there has to be more operation and control, if it was anyone else working for any company they’d be fired, at some point the Minister has to be held responsible for Uisce Éireann,” he added.
Seconding the proposal, Cllr Rita McInerney (FF) noted “it is a serious issue in terms of people’s health, you’re advised not to drink water but the expense and hardship it causes people is unreal, you won’t take chance on this water even if you boil it”.
West Clare’s reputation gets tarnished due to the lack of safe drinking water, she flagged. “This tarnishes the reputation of West Clare and the impact it has on locals for what you have to spend money on”.
A water tanker should be on site “immediately” when there is a burst pipe, Cllr Gabriel Keating (FG) felt. “At least people would have a depot to go to for their water rather than waiting”.
Cathaoirleach of the West Clare MD, Cllr Bill Slattery (FG) told the meeting it took Uisce Éireann five weeks to get back to him when he flagged an issue. “The communication is diabolical and disgraceful”.
Staffing levels and not having enough people on the ground is an issue for the utility company, Cllr Michael Shannon (FF) believed.
Last year’s Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy had a contingency plan due to water issues in advance, Cllr McInerney recalled. The responsibility of providing a tanker is with Uisce Éireann, O’Malley informed the meeting.
Difficulties in contacting them was highlighted by Cllr Lynch, “Who works weekends for Uisce Éireann? They hardly work Monday to Friday”. He continued, “Their support centre is completely inadequate. We put on a wash the other day and clothes came out dirtier”.
Cllr Shane Talty (FF) advised his colleagues that senior management in the Ennis MD organised for the head of operations with Uisce Éireann to address them in a briefing and suggested a similar approach be followed.
