CONCERNS have been raised that the public water supply in south Donegal “isn’t suitable” for human consumption.
A public meeting was held in Leghowney Hall recently to discuss the ongoing problems with the Barnesmore Water Supply and the Cullionboy Reservoir.
Local Independent Cllr Jimmy Brogan said this is an issue that he has raised with Uisce Éireann “many times”.
He has pledged to continue to work with the community to get an update on Uisce Éireann’s capital projects.
“For decades, the people of Leghowney, Copany and the wider area south of Barnesmore Gap have suffered from chronic underinvestment in public water infrastructure,” he said.
“Built through their own community effort in the 1970s to serve around 80 homes, the Cullionboy Reservoir is now expected to supply more than 700 households. The result is a system no longer fit for purpose, with regular outages, low pressure and burst pipes affecting families across the area.
“Many residents are forced to rely on storage tanks, wells, streams and rainwater collection to meet basic daily needs, while households have spent thousands trying to secure a dependable water supply. Heating systems and appliances have also been damaged because of wells which contain Iron Oxide.”
He added: “This water isn’t suitable for running a heating system, never mind for human consumption but people have had no other option because investment in infrastructure has been neglected for too long.
“There is growing concern that any further move towards the privatisation of Uisce Éireann would only deepen these failures. Rural communities are being asked to tolerate shortages while resources and water capacity continue to be made available for data centres and vast amounts of money available for projects like the River Shannon to Dublin pipeline. This is a slap in the face for communities in Barnesmore who are waiting for years for infrastructure upgrades.
“The community is demanding immediate action from Uisce Eireann to upgrade the Cullionboy Reservoir and wider water mains network.
“I suggest that every single person in every house with reduced water supply or any other issue contact UE on 1800278278 and report it every time there’s a problem.”