East Cavan brown water
Deputy Smyth raises severe water quality problems in east Cavan, saying brown muddy water has persisted for weeks and families do not trust Irish Water's safety assurances. The Minister says she will raise it with Irish Water and notes that similar problems elsewhere were handled through mains flushing and ice pigging.
I call Deputy Niamh Smyth for a question on promised legislation and the programme for Government. I do not want any constituency questions.
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Unfortunately, the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, is not here, but I ask the Minister to relay this message to him. People across east Cavan are very concerned about their water supply. Irish Water has had its trials and tribulations, but the people of east Cavan are affected by brown, muddy water that is unacceptable. The situation has been going on for weeks. The water notice has been extended for the fourth time. Mothers are afraid to make babies' bottles and clothes are being stained in washing machines.
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Will the Minister to ask the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government about this, because people are crying out to have water tanks installed? Brown water is coming through their taps.
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The response I have received from Irish Water is that the water is-----
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-----safe to drink, but people do not have confidence in that.
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I will raise the matter with Irish Water.
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To give the Deputy some solace, we had a similar situation in my neck of the woods because of mains flushing. Brown water coming out of one's taps is not nice and one does not have to be a mother to think so. Irish Water has invested in a programme called "ice pigging", which is a bit unusual, but I might ask it to send the Deputy some details about it. Perhaps it should be employed in her area.