A NUMBER of houses and businesses in Galway are likely to be without water until tomorrow or Monday as the city comes to terms with its latest crisis over the public supply.
Over 20,000 people were left without water, many of them since Tuesday night, after a burst pipe cut off the supply to large areas on the west of the city.
Most of the houses and businesses are expected to have their supply restored today but it may be tomorrow night before a full service is restored.
The source of the problem was discovered after Galway City Council employees worked throughout the night. The burst pipe was discovered on Siobhan McKenna road after an extensive search.
The latest breakdown in Galway's public water supply has led to one councillor calling for a special response unit to be set up.
Fine Gael councillor Padraig Conneely said the local authority was very slow to react to the latest problem.
"It seems to be one crisis after the next. Either the service is breaking down because of burst pipes or else it is being contaminated. But in 2008 the least people expect is a safe and uninterrupted public water supply. It is a basic requirement and when it breaks down there needs to be an immediate reaction.
"Yet in Galway this week people and businesses will be without water for five days just because one pipe bursts. It is just not good enough, especially as big efforts have been made to try restore the public's faith in the water supply," he said.
A number of businesses unable to source an alternative supply were considering closing for the weekend.
Frustrated householders and business people vented their anger on the local airwaves yesterday.
Patricia Wynne, who runs her own beauticians at Drom, said she had decided to close down for the weekend because she could not operate without water.
"It is just very difficult to continue without water. After this morning we are going to close down for hygiene reasons. Hygiene is very important to my business and water is everything to us, so I'll have to close, even though the weekends are our busiest time.
"I think it is absolutely disgusting that this has happened. We have been without water since Tuesday evening. Apart from my direct business we can't operate the washing machine, which is essential. At home we can't use the dishwasher, the toilets or the shower. It's just terrible," she said.
Galway City Council and Galway County Council organised a number of water tankers on the west of the city and outlining areas such as Moycullen and Barna.
But Galway City Council Director of Services, Ciaran Hayes, said that it would take some time for all reservoirs to be refilled following the leak.
"We should see the water coming back gradually from now onwards and the more we conserve water, the quicker it will be back for everyone. We are trying to put emergency procedures in place - they are rolling out now. It is unacceptable in this day and age that we have people without water for a period of time. But it has happened.