Big freeze leaves Achill island without water for 5 days

Thousands of residents on Achill island, Co Mayo have been left without water for the past five days. Local residents say that last week, Achill had its heaviest falls of snow in 40 years.

The island population of 3,500 surged over the weekend by over 70%, when there were almost full occupancy of holiday homes, local hotels and bed and breakfast accomodation. Snow and frost caused pipes connected to the main water supply to leak and there is no emergency reservoir in place to meet the extra demand. Mayo County Council are ready to begin work on a new reservoir this Spring, but in the meantime, the people of Achill are left without water.