‘Fed up’ residents campaign for water upgrade

Residents of an area outside Ballybofey which has been plagued with water issues are taking action to get supplies repaired as a matter of urgency.

The Goland Residents Association say they are ‘fed up’ with having poor water pressure, supply and quality for years.

The issue came to a head at the end of May when water supply was cut for 48 hours in an unplanned outage. On 23rd May, high winds blew debris onto the inlet screens at Meencrumlin water treatment plant which supplies customers in the Lough Mourne area. After repairs were completed, it took longer for a full water supply to return to customers on higher grounds, particularly customers closest to the plant in Goland and Meenglass as the network pipes and reservoirs refilled.

“This is difficult at the best of times but during a pandemic when we must wash our hands it is appalling,” said a statement from the Goland Residents Association.

Neighbours held a social-distanced meeting to unite “to push this issue forward once and for all”. The group is calling on Irish Water, Donegal County Council and politicians to address the matter.

They said: “We are no longer prepared to put up with this situation. Water is a basic human right. In this day and age this is just despicable.”