Irish Water is being urged to implement an adequate water management strategy, following recent outages in Clare during the dry spell.
A number of areas in the North and West of the county were left without water supply at various stages last week, and while there are currently no outages, night-time restrictions remain in place there and in East Clare.
Its claimed locals in Miltown are on tender hooks in fear of outages during Willie Clancy Week, as Clare FM’s Fiona McGarry reports:
Irish Water says night-time restrictions remain in parts of North, West and East Clare, as it works to manage water levels in the network.
The yield from the borehole that serves the Broadford scheme, which includes Tulla, has been reduced over the dry spell, and restrictions have been in place to allow the reservoirs to recharge at night.
Water is still being tankered in from neighbouring schemes, while Irish Water is now looking at the possibility of drilling a new borehole to boost the supply.
Night time restrictions are also continuing in Lahinch, Liscannor, Doolin, Lisdoonvarna and Kilfenora and water is being tankered in to the reservoirs in Fanore and New Quay.
Restrictions may also be stepped up, as supply is set to be reduced to a trickle overnight in parts of the greater Dublin area, given that no rain is in sight.
Clare Sinn Féin election hopeful Noeleen Moran feels these shortages show a clear and urgent need for further investment in water infrastructure here.
In Miltown Malbay, meanwhile, local business people are hoping that separate water issues don’t re-occur there during the closing days of the Willie Clancy Summer School.
The latest in a long series of outages last Friday was caused by a burst water main which is in line to be replaced, but the project hit a stumbling block when the company appointed to carry out replacement works withdrew.
It’s not yet clear when the works to replace the 3.5km water main will begin.
Rosemary Day of the local Yard Cafe and Bistro today says they’re among a number of businesses that are forced to close when these problems arise.
Statement from Irish Water:
Update on Irish Water Restrictions Co. Clare 13.07.2018
Irish Water wish to notify their customers in County Clare of the following:-
North Clare.
Due to the prolonged dry weather conditions which has generated unprecedented demand on the water supply network and in order to re-distribute supply across the North Clare area the following restrictions will apply;
Water Restrictions will continue again from Friday night 13th July and through the weekend, from 10pm to 6am, in Lahinch, Lisdoonvarna, Doolin, Liscannor, Ballyvaughan, Kilfenora and surrounding Group Water Supply schemes.
Water bowsers are available in Fanore and Ballyvaughan and are being replenished daily.
It is anticipated that these restrictions will continue for a number of weeks to replenish reservoir reserves in north Co. Clare. Water Conservation measure may be extended to other areas as required.
East Clare.
Water Restrictions will also continue tonight Friday July 13th, from 10pm to 6am and through the weekend, in Tulla. This restriction is required to conserve the bore-hole supply servicing the town.
It is anticipated that these restrictions will continue for a number of weeks and other restrictions may come into effect in other locations while the current drought persists.
We would like to remind the public to continue to conserve water and thank them for their efforts to date. For updates and water conservation tips please see www.water.ie
