Cork council expects to end water supply problems in two villages

Two villages in north Cork are expected to have longstanding water supply problems resolved in the near future.

Mon, 23 Mar, 2015 - 00:00

Sean O’Riordan

According to the county council, there’s good news in the pipeline for Ballydesmond and Kildorrey.

But, in Fermoy, fears of flood risks have resurfaced in a difficulty caused by the lack of council manpower outdoors.

Residents in Ballydesmond have experienced discolouration in their supply for quite some time, primarily due to large build-ups of manganese. County engineer David Keane said €500,000 has been set aside by Irish Water for plans to abandon the village’s current source and connect Ballydesmond to a water supply scheme at Ballinatona.

Consultants, he said, would be appointed very shortly and work will commence before year end.

Cllr Tim Collins (Ind) asked whether the supply, currently, was fit to drink and expressed surprise there was no boil water notice in place. Mr Keane said water was tested regularly and bacteria was not a problem.

“The water does look coloured because of the manganese rock there,” he explained. “There isn’t any question of a health risk.”

He expected it could take around nine months to hook up the village to the new supply system.

Meanwhile, work will shortly start on building a new reservoir in Kildorrery, which has experienced virtual drought situations for the past 18 months.

Cllr Noel McCarthy said locals would welcome improvements and urged the engineer to fast-track the project, which will also include the laying of 2.4km of new mains pipes.

In Fermoy, meantime, concerns have been raised the OPW may privatise a scheme for the planned erection of flood prevention barriers. Council staff will erect barriers on the northern side of Fermoy, prior to any flood threats. However, the council does not have sufficient manpower to erect barriers on the southern side of the town.

As a result, the OPW has appointed temporary private contractors to undertake the job until it appointed a permanent private operator.

The flood barriers for both sides of the river are in storage to the north of the Blackwater, at the former Faber Castell production site.

Mr Keane said, ideally, the barriers for the southern side should be stored in the immediate locality.

Assistant county manager Tom Stritch said the council could not bring in staff from outlying areas such as Mitchelstown and Midleton to erect barriers as they could be needed for flood relief work in their own localities.