Water shortages putting businesses under pressure

WATER shortages in North Clare are putting pressure on businesses and impacting on the reputation of the area among tourists, it has been claimed.

“Water is such a basic requirement. It is essential for people working in the tourism sector and for visitors. Despite the best efforts in terms of promotion if people have an unsatisfactory experience, because of water shortages or water quality it will impact on their enjoyment and the chance of them coming back again,” said County Councillor and member of the Clare Tourism Forum, Richard Nagle.
A restaurant in Fanore was forced to shut its doors temporarily at the end of last month due to water shut-offs in the area.
“My staff all arrived in the morning but there was no way we could open without water. Everything we sell in the restaurant is prepared fresh on site and we cook everything to order. When we had no water to wash our hands or prepare food, we had to close our doors. We had the same last summer when we had to close our doors for three days. We had no water in March for two weeks,” said Ross Quinn of Vasco Dine Wine Deli in Fanore.
“The day we were without water looked like it would have been one of the busiest midweek days of the year. It was a beautiful day and we had tours of cyclists passing, walkers, surfers and people looking out at the dolphins. It is awful for the area. Tourists go away hungry, they go away disappointed with Clare. It is difficult for people to understand how we can have no water in a country with so much rain,” he continued.
Vasco opened just over one year ago and employs eight people. According to Ross, last summer wasn’t easy but this year is proving more difficult again because of infrastructural deficits in the area.
“We pay our rates. We received a massive rates bill for this year which doesn’t make sense given that we don’t have road markings, we provide our own parking, we have had water and electricity outages and the road was closed on numerous occasions taking away all our business.”
“The scenery along this road makes it one of the most beautiful areas in the world. It is a pity for Clare the damage that these problems are doing,” he concluded.
O’Donoghue’s Pub in Fanore has also experienced water outages. “On that day we didn’t close. People came into me and wanted to have a drink and a bit to eat and go to the toilet. I met people at the door and I had to tell them that they couldn’t go to the toilet. What sort of impression does that give people in a civilised world?” asked Pat O’Donoghue. 
“It is a disaster and it is having an effect on tourism. Fanore isn’t destroyed. It is not overdeveloped and people love it and not to have water is just a nightmare. It is not very densely populated up here and you would wonder is it because we don’t have enough votes that nothing is being done,” he continued.
The prospect of further water shortages in numerous areas across the county but especially in North Clare is something Councillor Nagle is particularly concerned about.
“Water at any time of the year is an essential resource. It is particularly important during the tourism season. We are trying to portray the most positive image of North Clare to tourists and they do expect to have water available and quality water available and unfortunately that was not the case in recent times. We would have been facing into a major problem except the weather changed and we have had rain over the last couple of weeks.
“I shudder to think what would have happened if the prolonged dry spell continued. Everyone appreciates that while June was quite busy that July and August would be the peak months when the schools are finished and people take holidays. If the weather hadn’t changed we were going to be faced with continued water shortages and an escalating problem,” he commented.
Despite recent showers, water levels in some areas of North Clare are still quite low according to senior county council officials.
Lickeen Lake, which is treated by Ballymaccraven treatment plant and serves Ennisytmon, Lahinch, Liscannor, Doolin, Fanore, Kilfenora, Kilshanny, Lisdoonvarna and the rural group schemes in the area is being monitored closely for demand and level according to Clare County Council Director of Services David Timlin.
North Clare Councillor Martin Conway pointed out that this had been a particularly difficult year weather-wise in the county and that a new approach was necessary from the local authority.
“We had a three-pronged weather attack from flooding, freezing and now drought. Water conservation is extremely important. Instead of crisis management we need to set up a committee feeding into the Special Policy Committee to help come up with a strategy so we are not crisis managing.
“I understand experts from NUI Galway are interested in looking at water supplies in North Clare, we have our own experts on the council in Johnny Flynn and PJ Kelly. We should be availing of their knowledge. It is embarrassing that we are constantly jumping from one emergency to another,” he said.
“We need to look at examining localised supplies and creating an integrated approach as a back-up because there are good water supplies in North Clare. We need to retain and utilise them and not rely on one source. We should be able to interchange them when necessary,” Councillor Conway said.