Glantane and Dromahane water woes set to become history

THE water supply problems that have blighted a North Cork community for more than a decade are set to become history after Irish Water announced a plan replace aging pipes.

The company this week confirmed it has approved a €240,000 scheme for the replacement of just under 3km of antiquated pipes in the Glantane and Dromahane areas – must to the relief of long-suffering locals.

Under the project Irish water will the entire supply system from Tullera Cross to Scarragh in Glantane and from Kilcolman to Dromahane. The existing 75mm standard piping will be replaced by a PVC watermain that will bring an end to the breakages and leaks that have severely curtailed the supply of water to local homes and businesses.

Welcoming the development, local county councillor John Paul O’Shea (Ind) said Irish Water plan to go to tender with the project immediately, with a view to commencing work before the end of the year.

“Some residents have been forced to live with regular breaks to their water supply for the past 15-years. The situation has gotten worse over the past 12-months, with many households being without running water more times that with it,” said Cllr O’Shea.

“There is one particular stretch where the pipes have virtually rotted away, with people quite literally not knowing whether or not they will have water in their taps when they wake up in the morning,” he added.

Cllr O’Shea, who along with council colleagues and management had been pushing for the project to get the green light for the past year, said work to replace the faulty pipes should only take a matter of weeks.

“We have been very conscious of the hardship faced by local residents and I know this news will come as a great relief to those who have suffered so much in recent months and years,” he said.

Meanwhile, Cllr O’Shea said he was continuing to liaise with Irish Water over the replacement of aging cast iron and asbestos water mains in the Banteer area.