“Team Galway” was the catchphrase being thrown around at the Galway County Council chamber on Monday evening.
During a presentation by Jim Cullen, director of services, on the impact of the Christmas water crisis there was an air in the chamber that resembled a Richard Branson team approach to successful business management.
Mayor Jim McLearn commented on the team stating: ” There is nothing the council could have done that they didn’t do.”
The phrase echoed throughout the chamber as statistics of a successful council reaction were calculated.
The County Council eased the pressure on those without water with 111 staff working 10,540 personnel hours to deal with the crisis, while detecting and repairing 745 leaks.
Administration staff returned a day early from their Christmas break, and 95 per cent of voice messages were replied to within six hours.
The county council’s website received almost 20,000 hits during the period, with updates being made up to three times per day.
The activity on the website has prompted the director of services Jim Cullen to suggest the council become more efficient in communication, and enter the world of social media.
Councillors offered praise and thanks to both themselves and the staff of the council for a resounding success in dealing with the crisis, despite inherent problems in the system such as freezing water meters and malfunctioning treatment plants.
Following the inspirational presentation on how Team Galway dealt with the crisis, there were questions raised about the weaknesses of the system.
“We are backward, we open a water treatment plant in Gort and it is closed within a week. We must address it”, said Bridie Willers . Councillor Willers says: ”Next year we can compliment the staff again, but my biggest concern is how the country grinds to a halt between the roads and the water.”
Councillor Jim McLearn echoed the sentiments of Councillor Willers saying: “we need more robust meters, and better equipment. Meters have been left far too close to the surface and froze. Some are less than two inches from the surface rather than two feet. New houses should have to meet a minumum standard according to planning,” he said.
