Residents of a Longford housing estate are calling for emergency intervention over fears their homes will be flooded with raw sewage.
People living in the Cartrun Breac estate beside Longford's Pearse Park say manholes in the back of the estate are overflowing and presenting a serious health risk to families.
According to locals, the problem has been developing for years, with residents criticising the local authority and Irish Water for a lack of action on the issue.
The problem came to a head this week, when residents discovered raw sewage leaking from manholes both in the estate and in a neighbouring greenfields site where sewage works are located.
In a statement to Shannonside FM, Irish Water stated that the issue is the statutory responsibility of Longford County Council, and we're working with the council to transfer water services to the Utility.
When approached for a comment, Longford's local authority claimed they 'are aware of the issue and will have the blockage resolved shortly', with no clearer timeline provided.
Speaking to the Joe Finnegan Show, local resident James says adults and children living in the estate are facing a major hazard:
Statement from Irish Water:
The Taking in Charge (TIC) of residential estates is primarily the statutory responsibility of the Local Authority, under Section 180 of the Planning and Development Act 2000. In accordance with existing Government policy guidelines, Irish Water works collaboratively with the Planning Authorities nationally to assess the taking in charge of the water services assets within residential estates and the transfer of these assets in these estates to Irish Water for on-going operation and maintenance. Department Circular PL5/14 of November 2014 and the subsequent Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) IW has with the individual Local Authorities (LA’s) covers this issue. The Water Services Guidelines for Planning Authorities also provides more information.
Since the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was agreed between Irish Water and the various Local Authorities, water services in 1,264 housing estates serving 55,849 homes nationally have transferred to Irish Water for on-going operation and maintenance. This equates to 602km of watermain, 538km of wastewater infrastructure and over 150 pumping stations.
Irish Water is currently working in collaboration with Longford County Council to progress the transfer of water services assets in the Cartrun Breac estate to Irish Water for on-going operation and maintenance.
Statement from Longford County Council:
Longford County Council is aware of the issue and will have the blockage resolved shortly.
