Northside water crisis reaches boiling point
A meeting tonight aims to address an 18 month long discoloured water crisis in Cork's northside.
Reports of ‘dirty’ drinking water, ruined clothes, and destroyed appliances have become common place in Cork's northside amidst a discoloured water crisis that has been boiling on for a year and a half.
The crisis is understood to be linked to ongoing waterworks in the area.
Speaking to the Cork Independent, Socialist Party Cllr Brian McCarthy who organised the public meeting in Gurranabraher today, Thursday, said he doesn't expect members of Fine Fáil, Fine Gael, or the Green Party to attend. The widespread problem of dirty and discoloured water in communities across the northside of Cork city will be discussed at the event.
Cllr McCarthy said he has attempted to contact Uisce Éireann multiple times but ends up “lost in the same labyrinth of call centre menus as everyone else”.
“They actually sent seven managers in to talk to one of the committees we have in the (city) council a few months back and it was an absolute disgrace; it was just a pure stunt,” said Cllr McCarthy.
“They wouldn't take any responsibility for it; they wouldn't give a clear explanation for what happened; they wouldn't tell us what's in the water. They just kept on saying that when you let it run clear, it's safe. It's dirty water;we need to know what’s in that,” added the councillor.
Cllr O’Brien also said that Uisce Éireann offered no plan as to how they were going to deal with the crisis and said he was told that issues with dirty tap water would arise “any time they do major work”.
He continued: “There is 54% of the system in the city of the old cast iron pipes that need to be replaced, so how many years are they expecting people to have to put up with this?
“It’s been going on for 18 months. There are thousands of people, mostly across the northside, that have been affected,” added Cllr O’Brien.
Responding to the crisis, Uisce Éireann issued a statement saying that taskforce in Cork city has been established dedicated to improving water quality.
The company said: “Acknowledging that water services in Cork city are not meeting the standards that customers rightly expect, we are prioritising water discolouration issues in Cork city. As part of our commitment to addressing these issues, we have a clear plan which includes increased sampling, targeted flushing programmes and water mains replacement.
“We are keeping the community updated about these works as they progress through all available channels. There is also an enquiry form available on www.water.ie,” the statement added.
Tonight’s meeting will take place at 7.30pm, at The Hut in Gurranabraher. All are welcome to attend.