Birr Community Online

A shortage in the supply of water in the Birr area will result in water being disconnected for eight hours every night until further notice, Birr Town Council heard on Monday night (July 14th).

The Director of Services, Michael Roche stated ‘the expansion of the town has outgrown the resevoir’s capacity and the town’s main system is both old and incapable of delivering the required amounts.’

William Ryan, the Town Engineer, added ‘We are sourcing back up water supply for the town as a temporary measure. However, a serious capital scheme will have to be undertaken regarding a long term solution to the problem.’

Councillors pointed out that the entire unpredictability of the situation at present was unacceptable, stating

‘the water supply cut off at Seffin won’t be back until tommorrow we are told. Yet, as we all well know this could be prolonged beyond tomorrow morning. And there is no guarantee where or when the water supply will be cut again.’

‘all you need to do is take a quick look at the overall picture of the town to see that the disruption due to lack of capacity of the water supply is inevitable.’

‘We have to give much better notice than this especially with regard to families. It is an annoying inconvenience to a single person living on his/her own but need I point out that it is extremely serious to the elderly and families with young children.’

Director of Services, Michael Roche commented that over the next 12 months they will be looking at the upgrading of the system and the gradual installation of water meters. ‘To be honest this is process that we will require at least 12 months to be installed. The fact is that the Birr network is well past its shelf life. We have been plugging leaks here at one spot only to discover them leaking at another.’

Councillors responded with ‘that response is unacceptable. To say that we have proposals with the Department now is not going to resolve this problem. We knew we had this problem long ago.’