Faulty water system threatens island economy

THE economic future of an island off the south-west coast is in serious jeopardy because its water supply system is on the verge of totally disintegrating.

A total of 112 breaks in Cape Clear’s water mains have been detected so far this year and locals believe that figure will break the 150 barrier before year end.

Cork County Council has acknowledged the problem is serious and is desperately seeking money to repair the island’s 11.5 kilometres of water mains.

Island representatives have made an impassioned appeal for the local authority to address the issue, fearful their economy will be severely damaged if something isn’t done soon.

Addressing a western division council meeting in Clonakilty yesterday, Cape Clear’s Micheál O Ceadagáin said there was a water main breaking on the island nearly once every two days.

“This year has been the worst ever. The supply is so bad now that the water is being turned off at night. More borewells are needed and 90% of houses have to have a filtration system because of the amount of silt in the water. We really are in serious trouble,” Mr O Ceadagáin said.

Another islander, Seán O Drisceoil said Cape Clear had 200 students attending its two summer schools and they might have to be sent home if the situation deteriorated.

The summer schools are equipped with rain harvesting tanks, but they are coming under increasing pressure to supply needs.

“The whole tourist industry is threatened. The entire economy of the island is threatened,” Mr O Drisceoil said.

Mr O Ceadagain accepted the county council was cash-strapped but pleaded with officials to at least look at replacing all the island’s water mains on a phased basis over the next three years.

He said that, when many of the mains were laid in the later 1960s and early 1970s, they were not sunk into rock because there was no machinery available at the time to do this. Instead, they were laid at the side of the roads and in many cases just covered with sods of earth.

Increased traffic on the island’s roads has been blamed for causing vibrations which are breaking the ageing mains.

Mr O Ceadagáin said the first priority should be to replace the mains in the South Road area, which serves the majority of the population and tourist-related businesses.

“The breaks are not as bad on the eastern end of the island,” he added.

Assistant county manager Theresa White said she accepted repairing broken mains instead of replacing them was akin to pouring money down the drain. However, she said, repairs would have to be continued until a new mains system was installed. It would cost an estimated €1.7 million to replace the 11.5km of mains. Ms White said some money could be diverted from road funding to address the issue, but added the council would have to try and get additional funding to carry out a complete job.