Tap water is milky

September 1996

THERE were complaints that the quality of water supplies to the residents in Baltinglass and its environs is deteriorating further and is now ‘milky white’ as it comes from the tap.

And householders have to wait for up to 10 minutes before the water returns to a near transparent colour.

According to Cllr Tommy Cullen (Labour) there is an urgent need for water treatment works in the area.

He stressed at this week’s Wicklow County Council meeting that there were no health implications for the local population arising from the ‘milky white’ water.

However, it was very off-putting for people to have to cook and wash with the water supply, he said.

The water also has a corrosive effect on electrical equipment.

Cllr Cullen demanded that Wicklow County Council should build a ‘settling tank’ in the area.

Some years ago, a similar facility existed in the area, but it became polluted and could not be used.

County Council officials said there were no plans to build a settling tank in the region in this year’s budget. Councillors would have to proceed by way of motion if they wanted the work to be included in next year’s estimates.

Cllr Cullen said the problem had to be rectified as soon as possible.

‘ The water is as white as milk. There are no health implications here, but people are troubled by the state of their water supply. A proper water settling tank would solve the problem,’ he said.