Simple water harvesting would ease the fear of drought during dry spells

A Eagarthóir, On numerous occasions at Council meetings I have called on Government to include water harvesting as a condition of planning for large buildings such as factories, hotels and certain schools. To date that call has been ignored and as a result millions of litres of water flow from roofs into the ground or into expensive ground-water pipes. What a waste of a priceless resource.

This present extended period of extremely hot and dry weather has clearly shown how vulnerable we are when an extended drought occurs. We fret for our plants and crops and fear that our labours of love will be all in vain. But it need not be so if each household did just a little saving of water from the roof. No need for fancy butts or intricate systems. Just an ordinary barrel or two placed under downpipes will collect sufficient water to ensure the survival of quite a number of plants over a few very dry weeks.

I would ask each home to put in place such a simple water saving method and maybe by so doing we will shame our government and local authorities in following our good example. We will also have flowers and plants to enrich our days and lives.

Le Gach Dea- Ghuí, Michael Gleeson (Cllr), Clasheen, Killarney.