Water pressure in Dundalk causing ‘huge issues’ for residents
Some parts of Dundalk experiencing 'severely low' water pressure since beginning of March
Water supply related issues in Dundalk have come to the fore again, with water pressure problems causing “huge issues” for residents living along Tom Bellew Avenue in the town, and local TD Ruairí Ó Murchú saying that the local community needs “to have confidence that Uisce Éireann are taking it seriously”.
Deputy Ó Murchú, who said he has raised the issue with Uisce Éireann a number of times over the last month, said that he had been contacted by a number of residents who live in estates adjoining Tom Bellew Avenue who have, since the beginning of March, experienced “severely low” water pressure.
The issue, Deputy Ó Murchú said, has caused some of them to believe there was a problem with their showers and have led to the appliances being replaced only for the new ones not to work either.
The Sinn Féin TD said one resident had told him: “I have bought two new showers in the last few weeks thinking the shower was my issue but it’s not. The first shower was a Triton t80 1.5 bar and it wouldn't heat so the plumber said to take it back and get replaced, I then found others were having same issue so it wasn't the shower. So I bought the T80 1 bar.
“I know plenty in the estate who have done the same and still have the same issue. We are a family of three adults and one teen and for any of us to shower we have to get up at 5.30 am.”
Deputy Ó Murchú said he had raised the issue a number of times over the last month with Uisce Eireann and received a response before the Easter break, detailing how the water company is aware of the problem and aims to have it resolved by the end of “Q2 2024”, the end of June.
Uisce Éireann told Deputy Ó Murchú: “The area in question is pressure controlled, to around 1.5Bar. However, demand fluctuates (200m3/hr to 292m3/hr) causes pressure to drop to around 1.1Bar at various times in the week. We are currently in the process of replacing the pressure reducing valve to a unit that can react in real time to the changing demand profile. Work to be completed by end of Q2 2024.”
Commenting on the issue and the response from Uisce Éireann, Deputy Ó Murchú said: “This issue has caused a lot of problems for residents who live along Tom Bellew Avenue, hundreds of houses. There was no warning, no information given out by Uisce Eireann before people started going to the expense of changing their showers and that is not acceptable.”
Deputy Ó Murchú added, “While I accept the response from them before Easter, I have again asked for a meeting with them to ensure that any work that needs to be carried out is done as quickly as possible and to speak to them about the other water problems in Dundalk.”