Cork city residents voice their frustrations at water quality protest

A PROTEST was held in Cork last Thursday evening highlighting concerns over water quality in the northside of the city.

The march, which took place in Gurranabraher, saw attendees march from the Church of the Ascension on Cathedral Road to the Gurranbraher Post Office.

Residents and local politicians spoke about the conditions in which people affected have been forced to live over the last 18 months.

Solidarity - People Before Profit councillor Brian McCarthy said: “Several householders spoke and they were talking about how this issue has affected them, how it’s affected their families and what solutions can be put in place.

“We’re calling for water tankers to be put into the affected areas so people can access clean water. Access to clean water and sanitation, that’s a human right.

“It’s vital that we get that in place very quickly,” he added. “We want a voucher system to be set up so that people can go and get bottled water free of charge.”

This is costing people a fortune, not just the bottled water, but the appliances being ruined by this stuff as well.

“That’s the short term, but we need a permanent fix, and the only way it’s going to come about is if the money is put in to upgrade the system,” he concluded.

Frustrating

Sinn Féin local elections candidate in Cork City North West, Michelle Gould, who has been a resident in the affected area for more than 20 years, was also present and spoke at the protest.

“People are really sick of it at this stage, it’s really frustrating,” she told The Echo.

“Some people are spending between €20 and €30 per week on bottled water, and not everybody can afford that. [Uisce Éireann] need to do something, they should be providing us with water until this is resolved. We’re not getting any notices from them, and boiling the water isn’t making a difference, it’s really not fair. People are buying filters too and even those are getting clogged. It’s unbelievable.”

Disappointment

While a representative for Uisce Éireann has previously advised people not to drink the discoloured water, they have assured members of the public that once the water has begun to run clear, it is safe to drink.

In response to the protest, a spokesperson for Uisce Éireann said: “Uisce Éireann acknowledges the public protest that took place and the deep disappointment felt by some residents of Cork city regarding the ongoing issues with water discolouration. We want to assure the public that the matter is being treated with the utmost urgency. The water in Cork city is safe to drink once it is running clear.”