Burst pipe could leave a “substantial number” of homes without water

A “substantial number” of homes in the Carnagh west/Glanduff area could be left without water due to a long running issue, the recent meeting of the Athlone Municipal District was told.

At the meeting, Cllr Laurence Fallon tabled a motion saying that the current water pipe serving the area passed through private land, most of which was covered in forestry. A detailed plan for this pipe to be relocated was drawn up a number of years ago by Roscommon County Council’s Water Services, however, it was not implemented, he said.

He added that should a leak occur within the forestry area, it would be impossible to fix without serious and costly damage to the forest, and he called on the council to work with Uisce Éireann to resolve this issue as quickly as possible.

Speaking at the meeting, the independent councillor said it was a long standing issue.

“Currently the pipe is going through a substantial amount of forestry,” he said. “It was a private water scheme that was handed over to Roscommon County Council, who in turn handed it over to Irish Water.”

If there was a burst pipe in the forestry today, it was his opinion it could not be fixed without serious damage and cost to the forest.

“It is my clear understanding that no waiver of rights has ever been signed by the farmers involved in this scheme. Therefore the farmer who owns the forestry has the right to exclude Irish Water,” he continued.

While there was a proposal to resolve this a number of years ago, “it didn’t happen, and the bottom line is a substantial number of houses are now at risk of having no water,” he said. He called on the council and Irish Water to work together to find a solution.

Director of Services Caitlin Conneely said that while the council and the utility company work closely, Uisce Éireann was an independent company and the council had no functional role in it. “We can make representations to Uisce Éireann,” she said, adding that the councillors could also write to the utility company.

Cllr Fallon said that the situation needed an urgent solution. He proposed that an immediate letter be sent to Uisce Éireann. Cllr John Keogh seconded the motion at the municipal district meeting. When contacted, Uisce Éireann said it could confirm that there were “no issues with public water main serving the Carnagh West/Glanduff area”.

“This section of the network continues to operate as normal,” a spokesperson said. “While the surrounding land use presents some operational considerations, Uisce Éireann continues to monitor the network and will review the position should circumstances change.”

* Published under theLocal Democracy Scheme