Locals take fight to save spring well to boss of Irish Water
RESIDENTS in Watergrasshill have taken their campaign to save a spring well that has supplied water to local homes for more than 70-years directly to the most senior official in Irish Water.
A deputation from the village travelled to Dublin this week to present a petition signed by more than 400 locals to the managing director of Irish Water, Niall Gleeson.
As highlighted in The Corkman last week, locals claim that Irish Water has allowed the Meenane natural water spring to fall into disrepair, resulting in half of the water being lost from the well through leaks. They now fear that it will be closed down for good after elevated levels of cryptosporidium were discovered in the well water.
Irish Water has closed down the Meenane supply saying it was “an emergency measure to avoid a boil water notice on the community and businesses” with premises normally serviced by it switched to the Knockraha supply.
However, locals now fear the Meenane supply will be closed down for good.
Local man Barry Curtin said that repeated attempts to contact Irish Water on the issue had been rebuffed by the company. “That is why we decided to take matters into our own hands. Last week we went from door to door with a petition calling on Irish Water to fix the well, which we personally delivered to Irish Water’s head office,” said Mr Curtin.
“We know what the problem is and that it can be rectified quite easily if Irish Water chose to do so. We hope that the petition will force the company to take action to repair the well. If not we are fully prepared to take our campaign higher up the chain,” he added.