‘We’re struggling, but there’s not a lot else you can do’

LINES of people sloping stoically along to a far-off water pump while holding any container they can find would normally give rise to images of a ravaged part of sun-scorched, sub-Saharan Africa.

But, while surreal, the site is Cork city, where water supplies have been cut off to 40% of homes because of the deluge of rain in recent days.

“We’ve put about four containers full of water in the back seat of the car, but it’s not all for us. I’ve to look after my father up the road in St Colman’s. He’s 94 and can’t go anywhere,” Patricia Healy, 48, explains.

She and her son Roy have made the short trek from Knockpogue Avenue in Farranree to Hollyhill Shopping Centre to refill at the locally based clean water tanker pump.

As well as her 21-year-old son and her elderly father, Patricia is responsible for her daughter Claire, 14, her younger son, Padraig, 13, and her mother-in-law.

It might sound ridiculous in 21st century Ireland, but due to the recent floods they are struggling to even wash their clothes.

“We’re using this to have drinking water, to wash our clothes, to wash ourselves.

“We’re all struggling here, but there’s not a lot else you can do,” she says.

Yards away from the scene three students – Elizabeth Mehigan, 20, Sharon Connolly, 20, and Sharon O’Driscoll, 16 – are waiting in the queue.

The girls from Gurranabraher are carrying 14 bottles, jugs and basins between them.

“We’ve already been up here this morning,” explains Elizabeth. “It’s for showers and washing the hair and everything.

“We’ve given up on washing some of the clothes in my house; we’re just putting them in a bag and tying them up,” she says.

Standing quietly behind are Patrick and Kathy O’Flatherty, and their nine-year-old daughter Caitlin.

The couple have four children and are complaining about the lack of drinking water and the inability to turn on their heating because of the water restrictions.

Another member of the queue interrupts to explain that while the immersion cannot be turned on, the heating can.

Amidst the biting wind, Patrick’s face lights up. It’s a rare positive moment from a sea of people who, while putting on a brave face, are living in far from ideal conditions.

Five minutes down the road at a side corner the point is underlined.

In Farranree, another water tanker has refuelled. A sign written on cardboard had earlier informed passers-by the site was “out of water”.

Now, just 20 minutes later, the emergency service – providing water for drinking, cleaning, washing and heating – can resume.

There’s already a queue waiting.