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Defence Forces called in to help with water shortages

Updated: 19.08 The Defence Forces have been called in to help with water shortages in the north e...
Newstalk
Newstalk

07.32 25 Jul 2017


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Defence Forces called in to he...

Defence Forces called in to help with water shortages

Newstalk
Newstalk

07.32 25 Jul 2017


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Updated: 19.08

The Defence Forces have been called in to help with water shortages in the north east.

Following a request, members are being sent to Drogheda in Co Louth.

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The Defence Forces are providing two 10,000lt water bowsers and four 1,000lt water bowsers to Irish Water.

Once filled, these will be driven to designated locations in Drogheda.

The Defence Forces are also providing 21 personnel - including five drivers.

The remaining personnel will maintain the water bowsers in cooperation with Irish Water.

There are fears the water crisis could continue on into the weekend.

Irish Water has urged residents in Louth and Meath to check in on elderly neighbours and relatives as 50,000 households wake up without water services for a fifth day.

Water tankers have been deployed to the area to replenish temporary water stations and provide services to priority customers around Drogheda.

A specially engineered section of pipe is being installed in Drogheda on Wednesday - and Irish Water had initially aimed to have services up and running by Thursday.

However a spokesperson for company has said it will be necessary to return the system to full pressure "very gradually" in order to prevent further bursts at other vulnerable points in the network.

This could see many residents not having access to running water until the weekend.

Our Lady of Lourdes hospital in Drogheda is continuing to be prioritised to maintain supply to the hospital.

Supply is also being maintained to the commercial centre in Drogheda town in the Mell area, Donore Road, Marley’s Lane, Cement Road, Ballsgrove, Marian Park, Crosslanes, and some adjoining estates.

Irish Water say tankers will continue to refill stationary water stations until 10.00pm tonight. Water tankers have been secured from Wicklow, Fingal, Dublin City Council, Westmeath, Waterford and Northern Ireland as well as a number of private sources.

There will be a restricted supply in place in the following areas of East Meath: Laytown, Bettystown, Mornington, Donacarney, Julianstown, Clope/Grange Rath and Gormanstwon.

Forty-three road tankers have been deployed to supplement the mains water supply, to replenish temporary water stations and to supply priority customers around impacted communities.

In Louth temporary water stations are located across the network at the following locations:

  • Stameen on the Dublin Road
  • Termonabbey
  • Marleys Lane
  • Bothar Brugha or Hardmans Gardens
  • Ballsgrove shops
  • Shop St North Quay
  • Clogherhead – outside the amusements on Main Street
  • Collon side of St Joseph’s Church Lower Mell
  • Right hand side of entrance to Marley’s Court, Marley’s Lane
  • Drogheda Retail Park, Donore Road near Costa Coffee
  • Termonfeckin outside the national school
  • Manley Construction Site, Avourwen Meadows, Plantin Road
  • Baltray at the 19th Pub
  • Gary Kelly CSC,
  • St Mary’s School Bryanstown,
  • Wheatan Hall Retail Park,
  • Shrewsbury Manor,
  • Newton Meadows,
  • Boyne Business Park,
  • Harmony Heights,
  • College Rise,
  • Newfield Estate, Forest Park,
  • Newfield Estate,
  • Brookville Estate
  • Yellowbatter Entrance.

A rotation plan is also in place for the Drogheda town water supply.

Details of the temporary station locations are available at water.ie and on Twitter @IWCare.

Additional reporting: Jack Quann


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