Deputy John Paul O’Shea and Cllr. Trish Murphy say residents in Newmarket, Meelin, Tullylease, Lismire and surrounding areas cannot continue to endure weeks of unreliable water supply
Deputy John Paul O’Shea TD and Cllr. Trish Murphy have called on Uisce Éireann to set out concrete plans and deliver a permanent solution to the ongoing water supply problems affecting Newmarket town and surrounding villages served by the Ballinatona Water Treatment Plant.
Several areas in and around Newmarket, including Meelin, Tullylease and Lismire, have been experiencing an inconsistent water supply for weeks, leaving households frustrated, inconvenienced and increasingly concerned about when normal service will be restored.
Deputy O’Shea and Cllr. Murphy said the patience of local residents has been stretched to the limit and that a clear plan of action is now urgently required.
“We have people who have been putting up with an unreliable water supply for weeks. They are at their wits’ end and want answers, but more importantly, they want a permanent solution.
“Water is an essential service. Families need to be able to turn on a tap in their homes and know that a reliable supply will be available. Businesses and community facilities also depend on a consistent supply to operate normally.
“We cannot continue with the current situation, where residents are left wondering whether their water supply will be available from one day to the next. Uisce Éireann must now set out concrete plans, with clear timelines, to address the problems affecting the Ballinatona supply network.”
Deputy O’Shea and Cllr. Murphy acknowledged the efforts made by the local curator and Uisce Éireann staff working on the ground, who have been doing their utmost to maintain water levels and manage the difficulties as they arise.
They stressed, however, that the efforts of local staff must be supported by decisive action and investment at a higher level within Uisce Éireann.
“We want to acknowledge the work being done by the local curator and staff on the ground. They have been doing their level best in difficult circumstances to keep water levels up and maintain the supply to affected communities.
“However, the situation cannot be resolved indefinitely through local staff firefighting problems as they emerge. We need Uisce Éireann management to take ownership of this issue and put the necessary measures in place to improve the reliability of the entire network.
“That means identifying and tackling leakages, addressing weaknesses in the distribution system and ensuring that the infrastructure is capable of delivering a consistent supply to homes and businesses across the affected areas.”
A key priority, they said, must be the installation of pressure-reducing valves at appropriate locations throughout the network, alongside the replacement of deteriorating and problematic water mains.
“Pressure management is an important part of addressing leakage and improving the performance of a water network. We are calling on Uisce Éireann to assess the system and progress the installation of pressure-reducing valves where required.
“Equally, any water mains that are contributing to repeated leaks, pressure problems or interruptions must be identified and replaced as a priority. Residents should not have to endure recurring problems because infrastructure that needs upgrading has not been addressed.
“We need a proper assessment of the network, a clear programme of remedial works and firm timelines for delivery. If there are particular engineering or funding challenges, Uisce Éireann needs to explain those and set out how they will be overcome.”
Cllr. Trish Murphy
