Red Cross distributes bottled water to residents

THE Red Cross distributed hundreds of bottles of water to stranded residents whose homes have been devastated by flooding.

The aid agency handed out over 300 bottles, about 450 litres, to residents without clean drinking water in Kilconnell, Co Galway.

Emergency water supplies were also drafted in for residents living in Kiltormer, Co Galway, as a result of a boil water notice.

The notice had been introduced after flooding caused contamination at Ballinasloe’s water treatment plant.

“We were helping people in Kilconnell, near Ballinasloe, where we distributed about 300 bottles,” a spokesman said.

“We also handed out supplies in Athlone. Not many businesses were affected – we focused our efforts mainly on homeowners in those areas.”

As the county’s rivers continue to swell, the Red Cross will have about 3,500 litres “prepositioned” today in high-risk flooding areas.

“It’s exactly the sort of thing the Red Cross do when there are earthquakes.

“For example in Nepal we knew there was going to be an earthquake sooner or later.

“It’s standard disaster relief that we preposition things if we have information that there could be a problem.

“That could come into play first thing in the morning.”

Irish Water says it has dealt with over 80 incidents at water treatment plants. The utility says the majority of customers have maintained their supply.

But overall 84 separate incidents at treatment plants have left many without clean water. Tankered water supplies are being provided for essential use to customers in Bundoran, still without water until normal supplies are restored.