asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he is aware that persons living in the Station Road and Mons Terrace area in Castlebar have for practical purposes no public water supply; that for drinking water they rely on the permissive use of an insufficient supply drawn from a privately-owned pump; and that no water at all is available for washing or for sanitary purposes; and, if so, what steps he proposes to take in the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Water Supply in Castlebar.
A complaint as to shortage of water in Station Road and Mons Terrace in Castlebar was received on the 30th March, 1942, and the matter was referred to the urban district council.
The town surveyor reported to the council thereon on the 4th April, 1942. In that report it was stated:—
"The Station Road is served by a 4 in.-diameter cast iron service pipe; and I have not heard of any complaints along this line except from a few residences which occupy elevated or peak positions. At times when the reservoir runs low or when an abnormal demand is drawn from the town, the said residences are left in the position that the pressure in the mains is insufficient to feed their service tanks in the roofs but they have water in the ground floor taps at all times.
Mons Terrace is supplied by a 2 in.-diameter gun-barrel service pipe which branches from the above 4 in.-diameter C.I. pipe.
This 2 in. gun-barrel pipe is suffering from internal corrosion, with the result that the original 2 in. bore is at present reduced to 1/2 in. or 3/4 in. bore. This is not sufficient to meet all the present demands, and the supply is often-times very limited. However, I note that all the service tanks along the line fill during the night, i.e., when the draw-off from the rest of the town is very low.
The laying of a new cast iron main in this area is included in the improvement scheme for Castlebar. The council authorised me, some time ago, to purchase some secondhand cast iron water mains, 3 in.-diameter for the purpose of extending in the Blackfort area and the Mons Terrace district. The Blackfort extension was completed but the difficulty of obtaining fuel oil then arose and the question of supplying the town with water became serious. I considered it best to abandon the Mons Terrace extension until such time as the entire improvement scheme is being executed or until such time as the question of fuel oil becomes better."
The surveyor's report does not hold out any prospect of an immediate improvement in the position, but I am making further representations to the council in the matter. I may add that the urban council have under consideration a proposal to augment the existing water supply to the urban district, but difficulties are being experienced in procuring a deep well bore pump for the purpose of testing the capacity of the borehole.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that at the present moment the residents in this neighbourhood are without water, and should not immediate steps be taken to see that they have a proper supply, adequate for sanitary and all other purposes? I have received very strong representations on this matter.
I quite appreciate the position. Immediate steps are being taken and everything possible is being done to remedy the situation. There is, in fact, a very good prospect of securing the bore pump required in order to test the capacity of the borehole.
When does the Parliamentary Secretary think that the people there will have an adequate water supply? Can he indicate any definite date?
I can only hold out the hope indicated in my answer. Everything possible is being done to secure the bore pump, and once that is obtained there is every prospect of being able to secure a water supply. If we cannot get the bore pump or the fuel oil, we will be up against a difficulty.
Then we shall have a fine outbreak, possibly of a very serious disease.
I hope not.