Public taps set up in housing estate with contaminated water

Public water taps have been installed in a Limerick housing estate where the supply has been contaminated by lead piping.

Irish Water warned up to 400 households in Ballynanty not to use water from the mains.

Workers from Limerick City and County Council are now managing three standpipe taps in the housing estate to help local residents cope with the situation.

A spokesperson for Limerick City and County Council said: “We are doing this work on behalf of Irish Water and the council has requested representatives of Irish Water to attend the next full meeting of the council to answer queries from the members.”

Irish Water wrote to residents last week telling them that monitoring of the supply had shown higher than permitted lead levels and had requested advice from the Health and Safety Authority in relation to possible health risks. As a precautionary measure, they said, residents were asked not to use the piped supply.

Irish Water has said there was no problem with the supply from the mains, and that the issue arose with the water flow connecting the mains to individual houses.

Anti-Austerity Alliance councillor Cian Prendiville said: “The current water crisis in Ballynanty only further underlines the mess that is the water network.

“Whilst our water mains are bursting, and our pipes are made from lead, or are lined with asbestos, all the Government are doing is spending money on water meters.

“Over €500m is being spent on meters, whilst there is no money or plan in place to replace and improve our ancient water infrastructure.

“Not only is this network leaking, and bursting, but in the case of Ballynanty it has meant undrinkable water was being delivered to the residents for months, originally due to it being under-treated, and now due to it being contaminated with lead.”

Mr Prendiville said that people deserved better considering upcoming water charges.

“Rather than upgrading the water network, or fixing the leaks, all Irish Water and the Government care about is putting in meters and charging us,” he said.

“Well, I assure them, their water charges will be met with huge resistance, and non-payment across the city, as people are totally fed up with these stealth [taxes].”