Uisce Éireann figures show complaints in Waterford are going up
Uisce Éireann received 172 complaints in Waterford last year. Stock Image
The number of complaints to Uisce Éireann is going up while boil water notices are going down in Waterford.
That is according to figures released by Uisce Eireann to the Waterford News and Star under the Freedom of Information Act, 2014.
Last year, Uisce Eireann received 172 complaints about water issues in the county.
Most of these were about Waterford County (140 complaints), with just 32 complaints about city supply.
Seven of those complaints were still open at the time of the response.
Three of those were in the city, while four complaints in the county were still open.
While water issues are the remit of Uisce Éireann, calls for action are regularly made in Waterford’s councils.
At the February sitting of the Dungarvan-Lismore District Council, Councillor Donnchadh Mulcahy asked that the council to write to the central government department for aid.
He also said councillors needed to put pressure on Waterford’s TDs to lobby for resources necessary to address water issues faced by residents and businesses.
“This is a huge issue in West Waterford, and it needs to be addressed sooner rather than later. Businesses are losing out on money, and children can’t get ready for school,” said Cllr Mulcahy.
The issue was also raised at the January plenary meeting, with councillors raising stories of people who have no drinking water or shower facilities.
Readers should note that local authorities are no longer responsible for water services.
In 2022, Uisce Éireann received 146 complaints, with 30 in the city and 116 in the county.
In 2023, they received 105 complaints, with 27 in the city and 78 in the county.
In 2024, there were just three Boil Water Notices issued for Waterford, and those were in Ballymacarbry, Kilrossanty and Poulavanogue.
Uisce Éireann said the majority of notices were short-term.
Boil Water Notices last year were down from eight in 2023 and 11 in 2022.
A spokesperson, in response to the information request, said the majority of these notices were short-term, and drinking water quality is of high quality.
Where an issue arises with the quality, the HSE is notified, and a Boil Water Notice may be put in place.
“Over 99 per cent of Ireland’s drinking water supplies are fully compliant with drinking water standards.
“To ensure drinking water is safe to drink, Uisce Éireann has an extensive water quality monitoring regime in place,” said the spokesperson.
