by Evelyn Cullen

HUNDREDS of Dunfanaghy and Falcarragh residents, including babies and the elderly, were left without water over the scorching hot weekend when temperatures surged to 30 degrees.

The outages were caused by burst pipes in the area, and although there was a small Uisce Éireann crew working to repair them, there was much more work than they could deal with.

Local councillor and Cathaoirleach of Glenties MD, Michael McClafferty, contacted Uisce Éireann on Saturday evening to request that water tankers be sent to relieve the suffering.

However, his request was refused.

“They refused point blank to send the much-needed tankers,” said Councillor McClafferty.

“It’s just cruel. I was told that businesses must be out of water for 24 hours before help is delivered, but I told them it’s not the businesses that are suffering, though they are struggling, it’s families with babies, the elderly as well as parched farm animals such as cows and sheep,” he added.

“Uisce Éireann do not listen to us,” he continued, referring to his and other local councillors’ repeated requests to improve the water infrastructure in the area.

Prior to the extreme water shortages over the weekend, a meeting between local councillors and Uisce Éireann Representatives had been scheduled at the Radisson Hotel last Monday, but it was cancelled by Uisce Eireann a few days before the meeting.

Furthermore, a new date has not yet been offered by Uisce Éireann, explained Cllr McClafferty.

“They know there is a heatwave and that the situation is dire, but they will not help us. With the weekend that was in it, there are thousands more people in the area than normally would be, which further increases the urgent need.”

Cllr McClafferty, pictured below, who works in the local centra shop in Dunfanaghy, said that there isn’t a drop of water in bottles even left in the shop.

“The shelves are empty, and Moore’s is the same.

“It’s not as bad for young, fit people who can jump in their cars and go to Letterkenny to get water. It’s the elderly and young babies who are suffering here,” he said.

Cllr McClafferty has also been contacted by farmers in the area whose animals are struggling to survive the lack of water.

“There’s cows and sheep that haven’t had a spoonful of water in up to 10 hours, they won’t last long with the dehydration. By not sending the tankers, Uisce Éireann is saying to let them die”.

The need is most pronounced in Gortahork and Falcarragh, where the small reservoir cannot meet the needs in the area.

“It’s very low at the moment and is in urgent need of upgrades in order to serve the area properly,” continued Cllr McClafferty. Dunfanaghy’s supply comes from Lough Agher close to Muckish, which is a larger lake.

At time of going to print, supplies to some areas had been restored, however there were still houses on higher ground such as in Killult and Fanmore that had no water.

“And there’s no guarantee that there won’t be more disruptions for the houses that have been restored,” continued Cllr McClafferty.

“The bottom line is that Uisce Éireann must start listening to us, recognise the urgent need in this area and take measures to answer the need,” he concluded.