Tag Archives: Irish Water

Essential maintenance works will result in the disruption of the water supply to the Westpark Development and to a number of businesses within the Shannon Free Zone West industrial estate in Shannon, for approximately six hours on Saturday next, November 1. Clare County Council, as agents of Irish Water, has outlined that the work will impact on quite a number of major industries from around  8.30am to 2.30pm.

Ironically, the weekend’s anti-water charge protests in Ennis, Shannon and Limerick, and indeed many other places around the country, took place in torrential downpours. However, this didn’t dampen the spirits of the estimated 1500,000 protesters, who sent a clear message to the Government that Irish Water is not the way to go. The Ennis protest began at O’Connell Square where speakers addressed  the protesters before the marched up the street and turned into Carmody Street and wormed their way back to the Square. Residents from a number of housing estates marched to the town centre area of Shannon, where the protest included the burning of notices from Irish Water. Several communities from South East Clare were well represented at the largest protest in the Mid West in Limerick city.

AN Ennis councillor has appealed to the Environment Minister to intervene in the water charges row. Mayor Johnny Flynn has written to Minister Alan Kelly, asking for Government intervention to increase water allowances for everyone, for an ability to pay clause in contracts, for the age limit of 18 to be increased to 21 for non-working children living at home, attending training or third level, and for fairer prices for supply and repairs. He has also asked the minister to ensure that a new Irish Water Board immediately carry out a review of pay and conditions, particularly of its senior staff in what is a serious loss making business, a cost benefit analysis of specialist consultants/contractors costs reported in connection with the set up of Irish Water, a review of reported costs of repairs to consumers with possibly an option of spreading the cost over a multi annual period. The Ennis councillor has also called for a customer charter and …

WHILE the torrent of complaints about Irish Water and water charges is on the rise, students in Ennis have just completed a conservation programme that cut their school’s use of water by 75%. Coláiste Muire girls have saved 2,635,000 litres of water since the two-year programme began and this week collected the prestigious Green Flag for water conservation. The 2.635 million litre water conservation was measured through regular readings by the school caretaker and verified by the environmental section of Clare County Council. The College Road school had already won Green Flags for energy conservation and litter reduction when the water project began in 2011, and are the first secondary school in the town to make it a hat-trick of the An Taisce flags. “The programme, dubbed by the students Operation Water Conservation, was led by the Green School committee, with representatives from all the classes and years. The committee undertook an audit of the school, checking dripping taps and …

Residents’ associations in south-east of the county are leading a new wave of protests against the installation of water meters, ahead of plans for a major demonstration in Ennis this Saturday. The public protest, organised by  Clare Says No to Water Charges, will begin at O’Connell Square at 1pm. This week, sub contractors acting on behalf of Irish Water have been prevented or delayed from installing water meters in Killaloe, Parteen, Meelick and a number of housing estates in the sprawling Westbury Housing development. Maurice Walsh, who lives in Clarisford, Killaloe, confirmed that contractors were prevented from installing water meters in their estate on Tuesday at 11am, after residents requested contracts and consent forms. Residents have mounted daily peaceful protests at the entrance to the estate in recent weeks during working hours, to ensure contractors don’t get a free passage for the installation of meters. They are hoping other estates in the town will join their “blockade” over the coming …

Householders across the country, from now until the end of September, can expect to receive an application pack from Irish Water through the post. Irish Water is engaging with all households to give them the opportunity to avail of all free water allowances to which they are entitled. Irish Water is asking householders to complete the application and return it by freepost to Irish Water by October 31. Alternatively, householders can call Irish Water directly to avail of allowances or can apply online at www.water.ie. By completing the application, householders can; · confirm if they are Irish Water customers; · apply for all domestic water allowances that they may be entitled to; and · ensure they are billed accurately when billing starts in January 2015. All the information is provided in both English and Irish. In order to apply by phone or online, householders will need their unique Application Number and PIN which can be found in the box on the …

Water restrictions on the Kildysart Public Water Supply scheme will remain in place until at least Friday, it has been announced. On Tuesday afternoon last (July 29), approximately 1500 customers were advised as a precautionary measure that water on the scheme was not suitable for drinking due to the discolouration of the water caused by increased Manganese levels. A Clare County Council spokesperson said, “At this stage the water quality has improved because of the ongoing modifications to the water treatment process. The general quality of the water is not yet at a satisfactory level and following further consultation with the HSE it is advised that the water is not suitable for drinking until further notice. “In the interest of public health, it is recommended that all users on the Kildysart Public Water Supply and the Coolmeen Group Water Supply should not use tap water until further notice except for the flushing of toilets, flushing of internal house plumbing systems, dishwashing, personal hygiene, and laundry …

WATER tankers will be on hand in Kildysart and Coolmeen once again today, as a water restriction and public drinking water alert remains in place. The HSE, in conjunction with Irish Water and Clare County Council, introduced the precautionary measure on Tuesday night, after higher levels of manganese were discovered in the  Kildysart Public Water Supply. Approximately 1500 customers of the Kildysart Public Water Supply and the Coolmeen Group Water Supply are affected by the water notice. Water tankers will be located at Kildysart Secondary School from 10am to 11am and 6pm to 7pm on Thursday and Friday, and at the Hilltop Bar in Coolmeen from 12 noon to 1pm and 8pm to 9pm on Thursday and Friday. All users on the Kildysart Public Water Supply and the Coolmeen Group Water Supply are being advised not to use tap water until further notice except for the flushing of toilets, flushing of internal house plumbing systems, dishwashing and personal hygiene. Ice …