WITHOUT a clear water supply for almost nine months, one of the residents of the Croom housing estate, Cois Cois Sruthainm, whose young son spent a week in hospital being treated for E.Coli, says the onus is on Limerick County Council to provide a clean water supply.
Speaking to the Limerick Post, Myra O’Donoghue is one of the residents who were served with Boil Notices after the water supply was tested or bacteria by Limerick County Council, in the presence of the HSE.
“Everyone on the estate was complaining of sickness – initially they thought it was a bug of some sort and the developers told us they were following guidelines from the council. We formed a residents association at the end of February and met with the council in April. We’ve now been without water for over eight months and I’m going to my sister’s house and my parents’ house to get clean water”.
Explaining that unless three consecutive tests produce clear water, the Boil Notices have to remain, the county council cathaoirleach, Richard Butler, told this newspaper that it has not been possible to install a water tank on the estate, as there was no way of guaranteeing that utensils used by the residents would not be without contamination.
Shortly after speaking with this newspaper on Tuesday, Cllr Butler confirmed that the county council had just received a letter from the developers confirming that, as requested, they had carried out checks to satisfactory standard.
“Work is progressing on this but unfortunately the legislation process is very lengthy and I can understand the frustrations of the people,” he said.
When contacted, the council’s senior executive engineer, Donal Brennan said that an action plan had been issued to the developers some time ago.
“We are working through the action plan and there will be a further inspection carried out by the council within the next few weeks. However, my ability to comment is restricted as I will be investigating.
“The council is the statutory supervisory authority on a private water supply and has to follow the legislation, which is relatively new We have to now go through the action plan submitted and this will have to be either amended or approved then implemented and monitored by us
“On a choice between speed and certainty, the choice is certainty – we do, however, appreciate the inconvenience caused to the residents.”
