‘Residents enduring water supply nightmare’

Residents in a wide area of mid-Kerry are experiencing an “absolute nightmare” due to constant breakdowns in public water supplies, it has been claimed.

Kerry County Council confirmed it carried out 100 repairs to public mains in the regional scheme covering Killorglin, Milltown, Beaufort, and large rural districts, over an 18-month period up to July last.

Calling for the replacement of the antiquated water supply pipe network, local councillor Michael Cahill said problems were arising almost on a daily basis in the past couple of years. “It’s been an absolute nightmare for households and businesses.”

He said if there was a major breakdown during Puck Fair, an annual festival in Killorglin, it would be a disaster for guesthouses, bars, and restaurants. “I’m aware of one business which had 180 people sitting down to a meal and not a drop of water to make a cup of tea or wash a plate,” he said.

Mr Cahill also called for the planned installation of water metres to homes to be postponed until a proper water infrastructure was in place.

A council spokesman said seven separate pipelines, measuring 8,000m in mid-Kerry had been approved for replacement by the Department of the Environment. Work was scheduled to start in 2013 at a cost of €1.2m.

The council has also made a number of submissions to the department for the replacement of 67 water mains around the county, with a total length of 57km. The estimated cost of the work is €12.7m.