Water quality protest to take place in Cork next month

CORK city residents who have been experiencing ongoing water issues are set to protest outside Uisce Éireann’s Cork office next month.

The decision was made at a public meeting on Thursday, organised by People Before Profit-Solidarity TD Mick Barry.

The motion proposing the protest was tabled in the wake of the decision by the water utility company to not attend the meeting to face questions from householders who have been directly affected by the issue.

Held in the Maldron Hotel Shandon, the meeting heard from a number of people who have been contending with persistent water discolouration.

One such person was John Mulcahy, from Ballyvolane, who expressed his frustration over the ongoing issue.

“For myself and my family, the last three years have been very difficult,” he said.

“We have a jar on our window that we use to check the water is clear before turning on washing machine dishwasher or shower. My seven-year-old asks us if the water safe to use to brush his teeth.

He said they have to buy bottled water to boil to make baby bottles as they have twins and have concerns that the tap water isn’t safe, even when it’s ‘clear’. 

Concerns over lack of action 

He spoke of one instance where his seven-year-old son was left “distraught” after discoloured water ruined a birthday present he had received from his grandparents.

“Our seven-year-old loves Manchester United and his grandparents bought him a new United jersey which was white for his birthday.

“Being his birthday, it got a bit dirty, so we threw it in with a whitewash, never copped that the water was dirty and everything came out absolutely destroyed. He was distraught,” Mr Mulcahy said.

The northside resident said he feels there is a lack of action from Uisce Éireann in dealing with the issue and was critical that a representative did not attend the meeting on Thursday.

Representative not available to attend 

Ahead of the meeting, a spokesperson for Uisce Éireann said a representative from the company would “not be available” to attend.

“However, Uisce Éireann continues to engage extensively with elected representatives and customers in relation to this issue,” they added.

The spokesperson said Uisce Éireann is treating the matter “with the utmost priority and are committed to working on the ground to address the issue”.

In relation to the provision of bottled water, the spokesperson said Uisce Éireann provides bottled water “in certain circumstances where it’s practical to do so, for example to Vulnerable Customers when the customer is notified (by text and/or phone) of an interruption”.

“Should that customer ask for bottled water, we will facilitate that request.

“As a regulated utility, there is no mechanism under the current regulatory framework to provide compensation to customers who choose to purchase bottled water during a Boil Water Notice or if experiencing other water quality issues,” they added.

Speaking ahead of the meeting in relation to the protest proposal, Mr Barry said if Uisce Éireann “won't come to talk to the people then the people are going to have to talk about going to them”.

“These problems have been going on for too long now and people's patience is exhausted,” the Cork North Central TD added.

The protest next month is set to take place at the Uisce Éireann offices on Eglinton St on Saturday, February 10 at 12 noon.