Burst pipes and water shortages as ice hazard replaced with flood fears

A SIGNIFICANT thaw set in across the country yesterday as concerns over snow and ice began to give way to fears of possible flooding.

Met Éireann warned of the risk of localised flooding as snow and ice began to melt and rain moved in from the west and south.

County councils issued warnings concerning water supplies as burst pipes returned as a major problem. In parts of Cork city, water pressure was reduced at 8pm last night until 6am today to conserve water supply due to burst pipes. It’s understood this was due to at least three major burst pipe incidents in the city.

A city council spokesman said the “situation was under constant review” and could not deny that last night’s disrupted supply was a once-off.

A spokesman for Cork County Council said that in west Cork “many areas are experiencing multiples of their normal demand” for water and in several it would “not be possible to maintain supply”.

In an attempt to counter problems, restrictions were placed on supply between 10pm and 8am, while in some areas supply was only possible from 12 noon to 2pm and from 5pm to 7pm.

With some reservoirs experiencing outflows higher than inflows, the council advised that if this situation continues, night cut-outs of supply might have to be introduced.

All domestic consumers who left taps running during the cold spell were also instructed to shut off these taps now to conserve limited supplies.

The rise in temperatures was welcomed by thousands of stranded travellers, as flights resumed at Dublin Airport.

The airport was extremely busy as passengers, some of whom had waited several days, attempted to resume their journeys.

An Aer Lingus spokesman said the company had hired extra planes and was employing long-haul aircraft on short-haul routes which allowed for significant increases in capacity.

Ryanair said its schedules were also returning to normal, although passengers on both airlines continued to experience significant delays as efforts were made to fully de-ice planes.

Councils issued warnings that, while the thaw is expected to intensify today, roads and footpaths will be at their most treacherous due to freezing rain, black ice and compacted snow.

AA Roadwatch said many roads around the country remain hazardous and called for drivers to take extreme care and slow down.

The improved weather conditions came too late to help two Chinese tourists who were rescued from the Wicklow mountains in sub-zero temperatures.

The couple left Glendalough, bound for south Dublin at 7.40pm on Christmas Day in their rental car, with a Sat-Nav device directing them to cross the treacherous Sally Gap.

They were forced to call Gardaí, who contacted the Dublin-Wicklow Mountain Rescue team.