TUBBER GROUP WATER SCHEME SUMMER 2017 UPDATE

CURRENT WATER PROBLEMS

A more detailed explanation will be posted on the blog in Finnertys shop window in the coming days; brief overview below for those who didn't bother to attend meeting

At the start of July problems with the water quality were reported, tests have taken some time to arrange. The initial suspicion was contamination (from either septic tank, silage or slurry) – hence flushing. Further investigation revealed that the cause is a seasonal low, leading to metallic contamination, probably iron & manganese (test results will confirm), so main flushing stopped.

We remain on a boil notice – as we have been for many years – but otherwise the current problems have been classified as unpleasant but not unhealthy.

These problems can be treated, indeed they are shared with many public water sources, the problem is that we did not know or expect that we needed to do it. All the work that has been done was needed & will be of benefit, but until we get the final piece of the jigsaw (which we didn't know we needed) in place, the picture is not complete.

Even with the change in the weather, it is not certain how long the problem might go on for, and the although there is a fix, it will take time (5-6 weeks minimum) to implement, so we are pursuing an interim solution of pumping water from the main Castlelodge river which, finances permitting, could be up & running in a matter of days.

SCHEME FINANCES

In the last bulletin, an appeal was made for those members in arrears to bring their accounts up to date; this did not happen and the finances have in fact got worse. Not only has this continued to slow the needed upgrades – without which will not come off boil notice – but we can barely afford our overheads (such as ESB bill for pumping).

It is unfair to start a new collection from those good enough to pay on first asking when so many still owe from the last.

In addition to contributions owed, we may have to ask members to make an additional one time contribution of €125 to fund the interim solution above if we do not receive funding from the council – which we should hear about by Monday.

We will be able to fund the full solution from normal contributions, and this years contribution will be collected in Oct-Nov, tbc.

Next Meeting

A further meeting will be held in 4-6 weeks, date TBC and this will be designated as the AGM, at which some votes concerning key decisions about the schemes future will be made.