By Sabrina Sweeney
A quick online search for water problems in Donegal produces pages of results, stretching back years and covering almost every corner of the county.
They involve homes, businesses and schools, and relate to a range of familiar issues, from burst mains and works at treatment plants to mechanical failures and supply outages.
Some are linked to planned works, but many are not. And in many ways whether disruption is scheduled or unexpected is beside the point because taken together, the pattern illustrates how persistent the problems have been and how long many of them have gone on for.
It’s only a few years since elderly residents in Manorcunningham were left without water on Christmas Day following burst pipes in the area. The anger that followed was understandable. Water outages at any time are disruptive, but on Christmas Day they feel like something else entirely.
Two weeks out from Christmas this year, many households across Donegal are moving into holiday mode. Older siblings are returning from work abroad or university. Extra washing is being done, more showers are being taken, and life is simply busier.
It’s also the time of year when people reasonably expect the basics to work, without having to plan or worry about back-up arrangements. And yet, for many across the county, water supply has become another variable to manage.
In recent weeks alone, residents in different parts of Donegal have received a steady stream of disruption notices from Uisce Éireann. Some relate to scheduled maintenance, including reservoir cleaning. Others follow unplanned bursts and faults. Viewed in isolation, each notice may appear manageable. But collectively, they create uncertainty around what should be a basic expectation.
Recently, works at Croithlí Water Treatment Plant affected homes and businesses on the Na Rossa supply scheme, with customers advised it could take hours for supply to return, and longer still for those on higher ground.
In areas supplied by Dobhar Reservoir and Bun na Leaca, residents have been warned of possible disruption or discolouration linked to planned works in the run-up to Christmas.
The picture is not confined to west Donegal. In and around Donegal Town, Falcarragh, Creeslough and parts of east and south Donegal, customers have also experienced interruptions linked to burst mains, low pressure, mechanical faults and emergency repairs. In some cases, schools and childcare facilities have had to adjust routines, with some having to close altogether. These are often described as short-term issues, but for those affected they form a consistent pattern rather than isolated events. And they are not just an inconvenience.
When the water goes, daily life quickly becomes more complicated. Cooking, washing and caring for children or older relatives all depend on a supply that should be reliable. For small businesses, the impact can be significant. Cafés, shops and accommodation providers cannot easily absorb unexpected outages at busy times of year.
Local representatives have reflected these frustrations for some time. One councillor recently described how repeated outages affect every part of a community, from parents preparing bottles to elderly people depending on home-help visits – a reminder that water disruption is often treated as a technical issue, when in reality it is a lived one.
Figures from the Commission for Regulation of Utilities help to place experiences in context. They show that the average household in Ireland lost more than nine hours of water supply during 2023. As an average, that figure masks significant variation. In counties such as Donegal, where distance, weather and ageing infrastructure add further pressure, it does not feel remote.
Uisce Éireann say repeated disruption reflects decades of under-investment and an ageing network, particularly in rural counties.
According to Uisce Éireann’s own 2024 financial report, the utility generated €1.606 billion in revenue and recorded a pre-tax surplus of €321 million.
The company says this surplus, along with Government funding, is being reinvested in a record €1.372 billion capital-investment programme to upgrade water and wastewater infrastructure nationwide.
That may well be, but too many households in Donegal will tell you that the investment Uisce Éireann talks about has not translated into a reliable supply for them, especially when maintenance works and outages stack up just before Christmas.
