BYC.J. MCGINLEY
ANGRY residents of a Letterkenny housing estate have called for urgent action to rectify a chronic water shortage. Residents of Park View in the Gortlee area claim not a day has passed since the New Year the water hasn't been off.
Families are left without vital water supplies, they can't take showers, wash or clean due to ongoing water interruptions which they have described as 'crazy and unbearable'.
Last weekend residents had no water on Saturday and Sunday, and on Tuesday before they spoke to the Donegal News some residents complained the water had been off again that morning.
They've hit out at the council for the failure to notify them in advance of water interruptions. A council spokesman said the problem was one of "supply and demand".
"The area is served by the Knocknamona reservoir and it has been low over the past few weeks. We made changes to the network on Tuesday and it seems to have improved the pressure," he said.
"The reservoir serving that area is a particular problem because of the hydraulics of the network but the changes we made seem to be working so far," he added.
Roisin Doyle, a mother of three teenagers who has been living in the area for the past nine years said residents were ' at the end of their tether'.
"There hasn't been a single day since the New Year that the water hasn't been off. Even if the water is on the pressure is dreadful. I've three teenagers and you can imagine the problems as we try to cook, clean and take showers. We have to go to the pool to get a shower," she said.
"I would consider moving, things have got so bad. It is very annoying when you're left without water and the council don't give you any prior warning," she said.
Gerry Higgins said he'd been told by the council the problem was due to the re-routing of the reservoir while on another occasion he was informed it was caused by a burst pipe.
"We just don't know what's happening to be honest. On Saturday I couldn't get a shower until 9 pm. There was no water in the storage tank. This has been going on for weeks without warning. We've got three kids and it is hard to manage without the water," he said.
"I know some people who had their showers burned out because there was no water to run them. In this day and age this shouldn't be happening. The council is allowing all this development to go on but there isn't water in our taps nearly every day and the council tell us the town is using too much water so they have to turn it down or off," he added.
Jacqui Bradley is a mother of three who has been living in the area for seven years.
"This has been going on for far too long. It is so unpredictable- you just don't know if you're going to have water or not. I came home from work on Monday and there was no water and that was the same story over the weekend. I'm out working during the day and you just can't be guaranteed when you come home whether there is water or not," she said.
"It seems to be going on forever without a solution. Surely, there is a way of sorting this out so we're not left in this situation on a daily basis," she added.
Anne Lee has only been living in the area for the past fourteen months after moving from London but said the present situation was ridiculous.
"I have to make sure there is plenty of water stored in the house because you can't be sure when it is going to go off. Not a day goes past without the water going off, particularly in the mornings and afternoons. We're lucky because there is only the two of us- I can only imagine what it must be like for young families," she said.
"You have to make sure you fill the kettle because you can never guarantee there will be water. It is unbelievable this can go on so long," she said.
Local Councillor Jimmy Harte said the present situation with interrupted water supply was totally unacceptable.
"I have been contacted by many residents in these and other areas such as Carnamuggagh, Windyhall, and Ashbrook who are experiencing a less than satisfactory water supply,"
"These residents have been inconvenienced and can see no end to the water problems. In this day and age the least that a family in Letterkenny can expect is a proper water supply and I cannot accept that it will continue as it is unacceptable. I have a motion with the Town Council for our next meeting and I expect answers that will satisfy the residents. The present situation cannot continue. The Town Planners much guarantee a water supply before any more planning is granted as the people in Letterkenny must have a supply before any new developments take place," Councillor Harte said.
