Residents in Dundalk's Bay Estate under pressure

Cllr Robert Nash has called on Uisce Éireann, formerly known as Irish water, to address ongoing issues with low water pressure in Bay Estate and Red Barns Road area.

Over the last number of weeks, the Dundalk South councillor explained to the Dundalk Democrat, problems with water pressure has meant many householders have been left unable to use mains fed showers in their homes. The problem, Cllr Nash says, is that Uisce Éireann are only legally obliged to provide 1.5 bar pressure going into peoples houses.

“Most mains fed showers need 1.5 to 1.9 bar to operate correctly and when you add washing machines and dishwashers onto the household supply, the pressure feed to showers is further reduced”, he explained. “This has led in some cases to people having to replace mains fed showers to a tank fed equivalent.”

Cllr Nash said that after multiple complaints last week, Uisce Éireann technicians carried out tests on a number of houses in the area, and all readings obtained were barely over the desired pressure. “I have contacted Irish water myself and asked them to check the pressure reducing valve which is supplying water to this area and they have assured me that this will be investigated further.

“We have seen similar problems in other areas of Dundalk over the last few months and in most cases, it has been down to faulty PRV valves.”

Cllr Nash advises that anyone thinking of installing a shower in the future, should make sure it is a pump shower rather than a mains fed unit, “as PRVs and all the problems that go with them are unfortunately here to stay”.