Cllrs meet with Irish Water reps

Urgent investment in local infrastructure, delays in housing connections, the need for backup power during outages, and the future of small, privately operated water treatment plants were among the key issues raised by Cavan councillors during a meeting with Uisce Éireann officials this week.

The engagement took place ahead of the council’s October monthly meeting on Monday, October 13. Councillors sought firm commitments from the national utility on a range of concerns.

While Uisce Éireann is investing in wastewater infrastructure across the country - with Ballyjamesduff and Virginia among the beneficiaries in 2024 - representatives highlighted the continued lack of a sewerage connection for Milltown village as a major concern. They also called for long-overdue upgrades to the Ballinagh Waste Water Treatment Plant, which has previously been linked to fish kills in the local river. Councillors also voiced frustration over delays in connecting new housing developments to water and wastewater services, citing issues such as limited network capacity, administrative holdups, and slow response times once homes are completed.

An Uisce Éireann spokesperson said the utility remains committed to “local engagement” through annual Water Services Workshops with councillors across all local authorities, a practice started in 2023.

Responding to a query from The Anglo-Celt regarding emergency power provision, the spokesperson said: “Uisce Éireann has a team in place to manage the preparation and risks associated with weather events. As part of our strategic planning, we assess the resilience of treatment plants, including the need for backup generators, and can deploy temporary units through our supply chain when required.”

They added that most water treatment plants are supported by treated water reservoirs, allowing continued supply during maintenance, repairs, or power outages. In the event of an outage, Uisce Éireann says it works “closely” with the ESB to “prioritise” power restoration to treatment plants and pumping stations.