Residents of an estate in Killenard were left without a water supply to their houses over the hottest weekend of the year so far.
Twenty eight houses in the private Killenard Lodge estate were without water over the entire weekend, with Laois County Council having to intervene in the matter, before it was restored on Monday night.
Water was available intermittently on Friday before running out completely on Saturday morning.
It is understood that the HSE was also informed of the situation.
The developer of the estate, Joe Byrne said he has the estate ready to be taken in charge for a number of years and has complied with all requirements under the planning regulations.
He said they provided a temporary water supply and understood that residents would be connected to the mains supply over two years ago.
“We just can’t continue to provide this type of service in the estate for an indefinite period. Laois County Council was due to take it in charge but they are now in a bit of a bind with Irish Water,” he said.
Residents there have had to endure two years of a boil water notice, meaning they can’t even use tap water to brush their teeth.
A spokesperson from the residents outlined the difficulties they endured over the weekend.
“No-one was able to flush their toilets, have showers or wash their childrens’ school uniforms,” he said.
There are approximately 100 residents in the estate and all are anxious that the water supply be connected to a mains source as soon as possible.
It has been indicated that this may be done toward the end of July or early August.
“When we go shopping we buy one trolley of food and one trolley of water. It’s very good for our clubcard,” the spokesperson said.
All the residents have been buying large quantities of bottled water for almost two years.
He said the close-knit community is now looking to have a long-term solution put in place.
Cllrs Tom Mulhall and Aidan Mullins, along with Deputy Sean Fleming, have been working on behalf of the residents. “The politicians have been doing a great job to move this along,” he said.
Laois Cathaoirleach Cllr Tom Mulhall said this is a “big issue”.
“There is huge uncertainty about the unreliability of the water supply. It is a big issue. Boil water notices have been in place in the past,” he said.
“Something went over the weekend and Laois County Council had to intervene. The HSE was also informed of the situation,” Cllr Mulhall said.
The water supply to Killenard Lodge is sourced from private wells.
“It was an exceptional weekend of hot weather. The residents were very annoyed. The reserve water in their tanks was even gone,” he said.
The developer has done work of very high standard in the estate, according to Cllr Mulhall.
“The developer did do good work and other housing estates wouldn’t be finished as well. The quality of the housing estate would be very good,” Cllr Mulhall said.
He hoped the application to have estate connected to the main Irish Water supply can be done quickly.
“That is something which I hope can be fast-tracked,” he said.
It is believed this is the main issue which needs to be resolved before the estate could be taken in charge, bringing it under the responsibility of Laois County Council.
Cllr Aidan Mullins believes the issue is now being held up until new pipes are laid at Canal Road in Portarlinton.
“The question now is why is it taking Irish Water so long?” he said.
One resident hopes the issues can be sorted out as soon as possible.
“I hope the council and the developer can resolve the issues which are outstanding as soon as possible and the estate can be taken in charge,” the resident said.
Boil water notice
“We have had a boil water notice for well over a year now,” the resident said.
The resident added that it was ironic that the estate in Killenard was one of the first in the county to have water meters installed by Irish Water.
Irish Water was given the opportunity to comment on the issues raised.
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