Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
RESIDENTS IN PARTS of Roscommon are still waiting for the council to come up with a solution to the cryptosporidium problem, some six months after the first boil water notice was issued.
In May a boil water notice was imposed on consumers in the Boyle and Boyle/Ardcarne area and one resident told TheJournal.ie that people affected are still being sent these notices every two weeks.
“I estimate I’ll spend about €600 to buy water from the shops this year or through costs for electricity to boil the water,” she said. “I don’t particularly like being told that it’s a minor issue, you’ll just get a bit of diarrhoea – that would put me out of work for a week.”
The Roscommon resident said they have not been given any update on what is being done to solve the wider issue.
“What do we do about protecting the water supply? Are we going to be faced with parasites in the water on a regular basis?” they asked.
Complex
Following an audit by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a legally binding direction was issued requiring the submission of an action plan by the end of August. However the EPA tole TheJournal.ie that the supply is “complex” as the water source is more variable in quality and “there is no simple solution to this”.
Construction is due to start shortly on a new treatment plant which the agency said will provide an appropriate treatment barrier for the water. The EPA added that this supply “remains on a boil water notice until such time as Roscommon County Council/HSE advise”.
Water charges
The resident said she would be “very cross” if this problem persisted when the new water charges are implemented next year.
A spokesperson for Irish Water told TheJournal.ie that, following the introduction of water charges, the company “will deal with instances in which water services provided to customers fall short of acceptable standards on a case by case basis”.
However it is important to remember that safeguarding the water system and enhancing the quality of water services can only be achieved through increased investment, much if which will come from the introduction of water charges.
Though Irish Water will take ownership of the public water assets early next year, the actual charges will not be introduced until the last quarter of 2014.
Extension of boil water notice
On Thursday the boil water notice was extended to South Roscommon due to the detection of an outbreak of the gut infection cryptosporidiosis.
The EPA said it was “aware of the deficiencies in the levels of treatment in this supply” stating that it is on the EPA Remedial Action List and confirmed it has been in communication with council regarding remedial works to this supply.
It said the council have included this supply in plans to upgrade this and 3 other schemes and construction on this bundle of schemes is to start shortly.
“The EPA will be liaising closely with Roscommon County Council and will be carrying out an audit of the Water Treatment Plant and will take the appropriate enforcement action following an assessment of the findings of this audit,” a spokesperson said.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
The water is an absolute disgrace. It’s completely brown. How are they expecting us to pay for our water next year??
Cash, cheque, bank transfer these are the usual methods of payment.
Good man Steeve
Councils standards are slipping as they have to hand over the water treatment plants to Irish water next year.
ass hole
I think that if we are going to have pay for this service we should be given a process of sueing the state for not delivering on those service’s we pay for.
Surely a complaints body or ombudsman would be more cost effective.
This is what happens when you put bond holders before our citizens.
Ombudsman is too slow a process. When I get to f##k up a service for one of my customers the fear of being sued is what works best for focusing the mind.
Don’t think the effect would be the same with public money
I presume those of you who find this story funny don’t live in the area affected, I however do live in Boyle and not being able to drink water from the taps is as an absolute disgrace in this day and age. I have two small children to care for its no laughing matter, we have resorted to buying six five litre bottles of water per week, kettle’s need to be replaced every few months and the electric showers burn out after four months due to the lime alone.
A salt adding system would sort the showers out, well worth it
@commonsense…tell me more, parents water is well water and the lime is wrecking electric shower. Thanks buck!
I have hard water too and shower was ruined. Fitted a salt adding system to mains entering house. The salt softens the water. Have to buy a bag of salt (about 7 euro) a month and no more problems with showers, kettles or other machines. You can exclude kitchen tap if you want. Look online for supplier in your area. Will save a fortune.
So you live in Boyle?? Boom boom!!
Ok, joking aside…Buy yourself a 5stage reverse osmosis under sink filter system. They are brilliant to see what kind of CRUD comes in from your water supply A good filter system goes from 5microns down to 1 micron ,which is as good as it can get. It will pay for itself within four months of bottled water.
Should add onto that.We have hard water down in here too.Used to go thru two kettles per year. Not anymore.It catches the lime as well.
Boyle residents were also told that they would probably have to boil water until at least Christmas 2014! As it’s a very hard water area, who is going to reimburse the residents for the extra kettles they have to buy?!
Use a saucepan
A boyle notice?
Did it just become a hard water area over night? The gubberment should give you a kettle grant every year from the magic money tree.
I have never trusted tap water in any part of Ireland. Too many horror stories of contamination ( I know not everywhere, but I am not taking chances). Only use it boiled and filtered and for washing etc and buy my drinking water.
Sounds awful what has happened in Roscommon and a nightmare for residents.
Anyone remember when you were advised not to drink the water in Spain – looks like its us now. Tap water here usually doesn’t taste much better than drinking out of a swimming pool anyway – unless you have your own well.l
Well thats nothing residents in Skeheenarinky Co Tipperary including the national school are on a boil notice for over 4 YEARS.
What all six of them are complaining
ah look its the Journal’s answer to the chuckle brother trolls above, jesus lads I spent more time laughing at your stupid posts then getting the sarcastic jokes about peoples posts on here
Says the coward who won’t put up a picture of himself…. Good one
Relax, it’s a bank holiday.
The complaints here are genuine and some flippant replies are moronic. In a civilised country no-one should be drinking contaminated tap-water or having to boil their water to make it safe to drink. Lobby your MP’s, write to your local newspaper, do something to bring this disgraceful situation to the fore. Good luck.
shocking to see this happening this day and age
God Roscommon what an irrelevant place, what goes on there?? & can someone name me ONE famous person from Roscommon?
Seriously when do you ever hear about that place?
Chris O’Dowd- famous actor. Douglas Hyde-first president of Ireland. Dermot Earley-famous and beloved GAA star. Ruth Scott-2fm DJ to name but a few!
Who are they?? Haha
Finglas.. Bono, Christy Dignam, Ronnie Whelan, Dave O Leary, Frank Stapleton (them 3 are professional footballers who played in world cups) & Colm Meaney
No they’re famous people!
Don’t worry councils will no longer be in charge of water, that’s why the new CEO Is a Dr of Business and a former head of Dublin city council OH S#*T START WORRYING
What are your proposals for a better water supply management system? You can guarantee when you take control of public supplies of local authorities customer service will definitely get worse. Irish Water will eventually be sold to Veolia or another similar company in years to come.
Interesting to compare Irish Water’s response with Northern Ireland Water which has a customer charter.
http://www.niwater.com/sitefiles/resources/pdf/domestic-customer-charter.pdf
I would not hold it up as a model organisation but, at least, it gives criteria by which their service can be measured. Irish Water follow the “at the discretion of the Minister” school, the one which has seen thousands lose their medical cards.
will they get few bob off there esb when the bill comes threw the letter box hmmmm
have your say