Up to 1,500 homes face water rationing

UP to 1,500 homes in west Limerick face a weekend of water rationing after an oil spill polluted a 20km stretch of the river Deel.

Crews from Limerick County Council are trying to ensure houses in Foynes, Askeaton, Shangolden and Creeves get some water while Shannon Estuary Water treatment plant near Foynes remains shut down.

The plant handles 4.5 million gallons a day and had to be shut down due to fears that the oil-contaminated water would cause serious damage.

Paul Crowe, director of water services with Limerick County Council, said: “This is a very serious incident and up to 2,000 litres of oil got into the Deel near Castlemahon on Wednesday morning from a commercial premises. We are satisfied it was an accidental spill.”