BUSINESS PEOPLE and householders in low-lying parts of Mallow and Fermoy in north Cork were relieved yesterday after both towns escaped extensive flooding which had been feared due to rising water levels in the river Blackwater.
Cork County Council engineer Aidan Weir said that the flood relief works carried out by the council had yet again proven successful in Mallow.
Although Park Road flooded, the erection of flood barriers at 8pm on Tuesday at the entrance to Bridge Street had prevented flooding in the area.
Mr Weir said Fermoy escaped serious flooding with temporary banking carried out by the contractor working on the flood relief scheme. There was some flooding in Brian Boru Square in Fermoy when the flood waters peaked at about 9am yesterday but just six premises were flooded.
Mr Weir warned that parts of north Cork were facing into a water shortage. Mallow and Charleville were both badly hit by shortages as well as villages such as Buttevant, Liscarroll and Churchtown.
It didn’t appear that there were any major leaks in the system and while smaller leaks had contributed to the problem, it appeared the main reason was increased demand, said Mr Weir. He urged people to conserve water.
Cork City Council yesterday restored water to about 4,000 homes mainly on the north side of the city which had been without supply since Monday. Householders were urged to boil water for drinking and cooking.
Cork city manager Joe Gavin said water consumption had increased in the city by about 30 per cent in the past few days, due primarily to leaks in the mains caused by freezing temperatures.
Mr Gavin cautioned that while water supply was being restored, there would be some interruptions during night-time hours as the council seeks to build back water supplies in reservoirs.
Freezing overnight temperatures on Tuesday led to black ice on many roads around the county. Particularly badly hit were roads around Mallow, Macroom, Carrigaline and Bantry.
Some roads in the Lee valley were experiencing flooding as snow melt and heavy rain continued.
More than 2,000 households remain without water in Kilkenny city and county as snow and ice continue to thaw.
Local councillor Joe Malone has been without water in his home on the Kells Road, Kilkenny, since Saturday and has had to collect water from Kilkenny fire station. “All 33 houses on our estate are without running water but we’re working together and have been able to source water,” said Mr Malone.
Local authorities were dealing with six major water mains breaks around the county last night.
Water restrictions were in place last night in the south of the county and in the Waterford city between 8pm and 8am, affecting a further 2,000 households.
Drinking water is being supplied at fire stations in the city and county; mobile crews and standpipes are being deployed in outlying areas.