A concerned councillor is calling on Mallow Town Council to test all the residential water supplies in the town for lead as quickly as possible.

The move follows the revelation that Cork County Council and the HSE South detected elevated levels of lead in the drinking water in three homes on Mallow's Beecher Street.

Residents and businesses in the area were advised not to drink, boil or use any of this water in food preparation until further notice and they were provided with two temporary water supply taps at the northern end of the street.

In response to the revelation, Cork County Council is to install a new water pipe on Beecher Street measuring 450 m in length. It's thought these works will cost an estimated €100,000.

Local residents in other areas of the town have now raised concerns about the possible contamination of their own supplies and local Labour Cllr Jerry Mullally is urging the council to speedily examine other supplies in the areas in the interest of public health and safety. He will raise this issue at the next meeting of Mallow Town Council on Monday next where he will be seeking support from his colleagues in his supporting this motion.

Meanwhile, Cllr Mullaly said that he was very worried about the possible costs involved with testing supplies and upgrading the supply. He said that if the council do find elevated lead levels in other parts of the town that they will have to seriously consider how to fund these works. He said that in such an event, he will be calling on councillors to support him in urging Minister Gormley to provide emergency funding to restore the supplies as quickly, most efficiently and safely as possible.

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