Homes on several public water schemes in the county were told to curtail their usage last night as water restrictions continue and some 3,000 households around the county remain without water almost one week after Storm Emma.
Irish Water, working in partnership with the Galway County Council, has asked people in a number of areas to keep their water consumption to a minimum to allow reservoirs to replenish overnight. The areas affected were Tír an Fhia, Carraroe (supply was maintained in the village and to the nursing home ), Williamstown, Moylough, Clonbur/Cornamona, Eyrecourt, Laurencetown, Kiltormer, and Clonfert.
According to the utility restrictions to water supplies were necessary as demand was outstripping supply, and reservoirs needed the opportunity to replenish overnight to ensure customers receive a water supply during the day.
People are being asked to conserve water by turning off taps, both inside and outside, limiting usage of washing machines and dishwashers where possible, and taking showers instead of baths, to avoid reservoirs emptying and water pressure to homes and businesses being affected.
Approximately 3,000 customers in the Eyrecourt, Laurencetown, Kiltormer, and Clonfert areas were still without a water supply at the time of going to press, a reduction on the some 4,000 without water on Tuesday. Consumption has increased by 50 per cent in these areas, and customers are beomg urged to conserve water in every way possible.
Water supply is being maintained to Ballinasloe town and Portiuncula Hospital.Alternative water supplies are available in Eyrecourt, Laurencetown, Clonfert, and Kiltormer, and bottled water has been distributed to vulnerable customers who have self-registered with Irish Water.
Alternative supplies are available in The Square, Eyrecourt; The Community Hall, Laurencetown; Clonfert Church; and Kiltormer Church. Kiltormer Nursing Home will also be attended to. Bottled water was delivered to Eyrecourt, Kiltormer, and Laurencetown earlier this week. Bottled water was also delivered to self-registered vulnerable customers in Tír an Fhia yesterday.
Irish Water has said it is making every effort to ensure that the alternative drinking water supply provided, including the tanker/bowser, and dispensing tap, are adequately disinfected. However, as it is not practical to provide sterilised containers for the public to transport drinking water from the tanker to their homes, the utility cannot guarantee that any containers used by the public do not negatively impact or contaminate the drinking water. Therefore people are advised to boil this water before use.
Restrictions to continue
Night time restrictions are expected to continue in Carraroe over the coming days. This will be managed locally to ensure water supply is rotated around the scheme. Some customers are receiving intermittent supply in Tír an Fhia due to excessive demand. Restrictions will continue over the coming days.
Restrictions were in place in Moylough again last night due to excessive demand on the scheme. Some customers in outlying areas of Rós Muc have been receiving an intermittent supply. Leak repairs are still being undertaken in Williamstown, with a high number of leakage reports being addressed. Supply in the village will continue to be rotated in the area over the coming days, and customers will experience intermittent disruptions and/or loss of supply.
High demand
There continue to be problems with high demand for water across Galway. Irish Water is appealing to customers to turn off taps and check for leaks on their own properties, as well as in holiday homes and unoccupied premises, and to report any leaks to Irish Water’s customer care helpline on 1850 278 278. The company is also appealing to people with external taps to ensure that these are securely turned off. It said all these measures would help to protect the levels in reservoirs and secure drinking water for local communities.
A continuous flow from an external tap over a 24 hour period could use the equivalent of the daily water usage of 40 households. Irish Water, in partnership with Galway County Council, has apologised for the inconvenience the restrictions are causing, and has moved to assure customers that repairs will be completed as soon as possible. It also thanked the county council staff for their heroic efforts in keeping water supplies running in very difficult conditions.
For the latest updates on supply and restrictions see www.water.ie/water-supply/supply-and-service-update
