Cork councillors seek public meeting on water quality with Uisce Éireann management 

A group of Cork city councillors has called for a public meeting with Uisce Éireann management to discuss ongoing issues regarding water quality.

Since the then-Irish Water opened its €40m Lee Rd water-treatment plant in the summer of 2022, homes across the city have experienced persistent problems with brown and orange discoloured water.

According to Uisce Éireann, the combination of an adjustment of chemicals used in water preparation at the Lee Rd plant and increased water pressure has caused rusty sediment to be stripped from the inside of the city’s aging cast-iron water mains, resulting in intermittent and ongoing problems with discoloured water in homes across the city.

Improvement

Earlier this year, Uisce Éireann officials said a €1.6m investment would result in a significant improvement in water discolouration issues across Cork city.

Those measures included the removal of manganese from incoming water and a treatment process which will increase the alkalinity of the water leaving the plant, strengthen the lining of the pipes.

The Progressive Alliance in City Hall, made up of the Labour Party, the Green Party, and the Social Democrats, has sought an open meeting with senior Usice Éireann staff in front of city councillors.

The councillors say they want the water utility company to account for the continued issues impacting water and wastewater services in the city.

Green Party councillor Oliver Moran said they wanted a collaborative approach with Uisce Éireann, and improved “communication channels and accountability measures to keep the public informed of progress, as well as challenges”.

Uncertainty

Labour Party councillor Peter Horgan said continuing uncertainty around responsibility for water and wastewater services in the city needed to be resolved.

“Having such a meeting, in public, with senior Uisce Éireann management, is critical,” he said.

Niamh O’Connor, Social Democrats councillor, said a public meeting was essential “so that people can get some clarity” on water quality and related issues in the city.

Uisce Éireann was asked for comment.