Water plant to be fully operational by end of week

AN end is in sight to the crisis that has left almost 20,000 households in Cork city without water after city officials last night predicted its damaged treatment plant would return to full production before next Sunday.

However, Cork City Council warned it could take an additional two to three days to return the distribution system for drinking water to normal.

The council said it anticipates difficulties such as silting and airlocking in the city’s 600km pipe distribution network, leading to a slow return to full service.