Firefighters forced to bring water tanker from Midleton during Carrigaline blaze due to poor pressure
Cork councillors heard that firefighters had also said they had never seen such poor water pressure. File photo
Uisce Éireann is investigating after crews fighting a fire in Co Cork's largest town, Carrigaline, had to get a water tender rushed from Midleton because the water pressure for their hoses was so low.
Firefighters attending the fire at Hillview Estate in Carrigaline told local politicians they had never seen such poor pressure and needed the tender to get the blaze under control.
In correspondence seen by the , the utility told a local representative raising the issue on behalf of worried residents that it had a team currently working with the Cork County Fire Service "to gain a clear understanding of the events".
In parallel "it is also reviewing all available monitoring data for the network and once investigations are complete it would provide a detailed and comprehensive response".
The fire badly damaged two houses and was witnessed by Fine Gael councillor Una McCarthy.
She told a meeting of the Carrigaline Municipal District Council that she had been contacted by fire brigade personnel about the inadequate water pressure and it was so serious they had to request that a water tanker be brought in from Midleton.
Ms McCarthy said “this caused significant concern to local residents”.
She said wind caused it to spread and even more properties could have caught fire if it wasn’t for the “tremendous work” the fire brigade crews did under the circumstances.
Fine Gael councillor Jack White said firefighters who attended the scene, both local and from Cork City, had also told him they had never seen such poor pressure.
“This also opens up wider concerns about the whole water supply system in Carrigaline and its adequacy, especially as more and more houses are built there,” he said.
Mr White said the population of the town has grown to around 20,000 and while the utility has spent some money enhancing the wastewater systems, there has been no investment in upgrading the water supply system for more than 10 years.
“There has been a huge amount of new housing built in that time. I wrote to Uisce Éireann a few months ago in connection with a planning application which is ongoing for nearly 400 new houses in the Kilmoney area,” he said.
He added: "If granted permission it will be on the same water supply line as Hillview Estate. I’m concerned that the supply in the town is no longer adequate."
Mr White said the utility responded by saying it has adequate capacity.
“That doesn’t stack up in my view, especially after what happened at Hillview Estate," he added.
Ms McCarthy said the utility must not only look at the low-pressure issue but carry out a review of all hydrants in the area “to ensure they are adequate and fully fit for purpose".
