By Róise Collins
HOUSEHOLDS across west Donegal are grappling with significant challenges due to ongoing water shortages, with some residents and farmers left without access to water for several days.
Among those severely impacted is Katie Coyle from Falcarragh.
She runs Caring Capall an equine-assisted service for those with additional and emotional needs.
While most of her horses stay at their premises by the beach, a few are kept on her home farm, which has been without water for the past two days.
Ms Coyle is deeply concerned for the well-being of her animals, explaining that each horse requires at least 15 litres of water daily, and even more in the current heatwave.
When she contacted Uisce Éireann they told her the water disruption was part of scheduled works, but she was unaware of the plans.
“Even if the works were scheduled, why would they choose to leave people without water during the hottest week of the year?” she said.
Ms Coyle asked if Uisce Éireann could provide containers of water for her animals, but was told that no such plans were in place.
In the meantime, she has been transporting water from her business to her home on Muckish Road, but she says the process has been incredibly difficult.
“They’ve left us with nothing, and our animals could die in this heat,” she stressed.
In the neighbouring town of Gortahork is Patricia McGee, who is caring for her elderly mother. The 88 year old woman, who is currently suffering from a chest infection, has been without access to water since Tuesday evening.
Ms. McGee expressed her concerns, noting the difficulties created by the lack of water for essential needs such as toileting, cooking, and sanitation.
The lack of water has also meant that her mother has been unable to use home heating, a particularly concerning issue given her current health condition.
Despite the recent warm weather, her mother’s home is north-facing and doesn’t receive sunlight until later in the evening, leaving her cold throughout the day.
FRUSTRATED
Ms. McGee had considered bringing her mother to stay with her, but unfortunately, she too has been left without water.
The situation has become increasingly difficult for the family who have yet to receive confirmation from Uisce Éireann on when the water supply will be restored.
During one of several phone calls yesterday afternoon they suggested it could be as late as Friday.
“They can’t even give us a concrete date,” Ms. McGee stressed.
This ongoing issue with water shortages has been a persistent problem in the area, but this marks the first time the McGee family has been without water for such an extended period.
“We keep checking all the taps, and there is not as much as a trickle,” she said.
A local farmer from Dunmore in Falcarragh, Seamus Gallagher, has also been severely impacted by ongoing water shortages.
Currently in the midst of lambing season, he is facing now also facing the added stress of managing water supply issues.
On Tuesday morning, he was shocked to discover that his shed, which houses 11 pens of sheep, had no access to water.
As he tends to lambing duties, Mr Gallagher now finds himself making three trips a day to cart water to the shed, further complicating an already demanding time.
As the crisis continues, frustrations have been voiced over a lack of communication from Uisce Éireann.
DISGRACE
Mr Gallagher explained how the water supply issues have persisted for nearly two years, and he expressed his frustration over the lack of communication from Uisce Éireann.
“It’s a disgrace that in this day and age they can’t tell us when the water is going off,” he said.
“It’s crazy, and they haven’t even told us when the water will be restored,” Ms Coyle agreed.
Local councillor Michael McClafferty has been actively supporting those affected by the ongoing water outages, encouraging residents to keep reaching out to Uisce Éireann to raise awareness of the issue.
“We need to continue contacting them, and hopefully, they’ll get fed up and finally agree to meet with us,” he said.
The independent councillor has repeatedly requested meetings with Uisce Éireann, but so far, his efforts have been unsuccessful.
In response, the Donegal News reached out to Uisce Éireann to understand why a meeting has yet to be arranged.
A spokesperson explained that the organisation is currently conducting workshops with local authorities across the country.
Once these workshops are complete, Uisce Éireann stated they will review all feedback and consider improvements to how direct communication with councillors will be handled in the coming year.
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