Boil water notice for Whitegate as sewers overflow into streets

Heavy rainfall led to sewers overflowing and raw sewage appearing across a section of east Cork on Sunday night. Picture: Larry Cummins

Heavy rainfall led to sewers overflowing and raw sewage appearing across a section of east Cork on Sunday night as flooding continues to cause severe problems in the south of the country.

Photographs online show the aftermath of flooding in Whitegate village.

Locals say public sewers overflowed resulting in raw sewage pouring onto the streets, and causing some damage to businesses, homes, and back gardens.

“A new sewage treatment plant is being built but is not fully functional yet,” Fine Gael Councillor Michael Hegarty told the Irish Examiner.

He continued: “It’s halfway through its installation, so it’s not fully implemented but the area is prone to flooding. It’s very difficult for the locals”.

Images on the East Cork Discussion Group Facebook page showed sandbags and barriers up against front doors and business along the wet streets in the village.

The incident follows Uisce Éireann issuing a boil water notice on Friday for Whitegate public water supply which affects up to 9,000 customers.

The notice said this was “due to increased turbidity in the raw water source, which is due heavy rainfall”.

The statement continued: “This may have compromised the disinfection process at the water treatment plant which makes the water safe to drink.” It said that the notice was a “precautionary measure”.

The areas that are affected include Aghada, Churchtown, Ballycotton, Saleen, Shanagarry, Ballinacura and the areas of Cloyne.

Uisce Éireann’s Operations Lead, Niall O’Riordan, said the company regrets the inconvenience to impacted customers, adding that the issues with Whitegate's water supply are "well documented".

He said the issues would continue until the water treatment plant upgrades had been completed. 

In a statement he said: “Public health is always our number one priority, and we would like to assure customers that the notice has been put in place to protect public health.

Uisce Éireann said it is “pursuing a permanent solution to address the frequent Boil Water Notices that the people of East Cork have experienced over the last number of years”.

The statement said: “This involves a major upgrade of Kilva Water Treatment Plant. Planning permission was initially approved by Cork County Council in May 2023, however following the statutory planning process, appeals were subsequently lodged.

“Uisce Éireann is currently awaiting a decision by An Bord Pleanála, however we have been formally notified that there will be a delay to this decision.”