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Kildare residents frustrated over water supply issues

Residents of Ballymany Manor have experienced ongoing issues with their supply
Residents of Ballymany Manor have experienced ongoing issues with their supply

On the outskirts of Newbridge town is a housing estate called Ballymany Manor. It's an established neighbourhood built at the end of the 1990s. On the day I visit the sun is shining and the green areas on the estate are busy with families playing and enjoying the nice weather.

But many residents say they have been experiencing problems with their water supplies in the evenings and it's a topic that dominates their neighbourhood WhatsApp group.

One resident said: "The water comes and goes especially after 5pm. We also have issues with the pressure. Sometimes we don't have water at all. Sometimes we do have water, but then you don't have pressure and then this is also affecting the heating systems."

The mother of two young children says the lack of water pressure has made things particularly difficult for her family.

"It's really tough because when I have to give him a bath we don't have water and also cleaning, washing his clothes and cleaning around the house. Water is important for everything."

One man who has lived here for more than 25 years says he and his wife have to fill the kettle first thing in the morning, which will do them until lunchtime and then they fill it again and at teatime they just have to take their chances.

Another woman says the problems started at the beginning of the year. She has four people in her house and suddenly at around 6pm when they try to take showers the water can stop. "Sometimes we can't even wash our clothes," she says.

The Government recently announced €4.5 billion in extra funding for Uisce Éireann under the Revised National Development Plan to help deliver 300,000 new homes by the end of the decade, as well as large scale projects.

Local representatives in Co Kildare are aware of the water problems in Ballymany Manor and hope that some of this funding will now be earmarked for towns like theirs.

Social Democrats Councillor in Newbridge Chris Pender said: "This is one of the housing estates that I'm repeatedly contacted by, telling me that from 5pm they have nothing. They can't make bottles, they can't make tea, they can't run a bath, or have a shower."

Fine Gael Councillor for the area Peggy O'Dwyer said it's not just this estate having problems with water but other parts of Newbridge also need investment in this type of infrastructure too.

"We're still trying to investigate the problem [here] but it does need significant financial investment and that's where the Government needs to come on board and whatever Irish Water have requested, they need it and they need to be given the funding to do it.

Uisce Éireann inherited the responsibility for the water system in the area from Kildare County Council.

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Maria O'Dwyer is Infrastructure Delivery Director with Uisce Éireann and said they are very much aware of the problems in parts of Newbridge and are working on solutions.

"We don't have enough water in the area and we are seeking to address that issue as soon as possible. We've identified works that need to start there in the next few weeks. We're looking to construct 8.3 kilometres of a new water main to alleviate the pressure issues and actually bring more water into that area. But it's not unique. That town is similar to other parts of the country where more investment is needed in water services. Our population has been growing and that's the challenge. Keeping pace with the growth that's been happening."

Cllr Pender says he is very much in favour of zoning land around Newbridge for housing development, especially given the current housing crisis. However, he is also worried that he may have to oppose such zoning in the future because of a lack of water infrastructure in the town.

Cllr O'Dwyer says politicians and officials need to reflect on how Newbridge got to this situation.

"Was it planning, was it right? Did we do a proper assessment on the planning applications as they came in and we need to learn from this situation because we certainly don't want any village, any town, any house to have what we presently now have in Newbridge and we're working with Irish Water to get it resolved."

But for the residents of Ballymany Manor they say investment in infrastructure is crucial for the future of Newbridge.

As one woman said: "I think it's not only water that they need to look into but also infrastructure in general."

While another resident said: "You look next door here there's two estates being built and if they get attached to our water supply we're down to a dribble. So really, for the infrastructure to go ahead the water, electricity, schools, doctors have to be there first."