Sewage floods prompt anger over Irish Water response

Irish Water was criticised by members of the Municipal District of Mullingar Kinnegad for the quality of its sewage management, after sewage rose up through the kitchen of a home in Rochfortbridge recently.

Cllr Emily Wallace made the claim as she spoke at a meeting of the Municipal District of Mullingar Kinnegad on her motion calling for Irish Water to outline any proposed sewage capacity expansions to be carried out in Milltownpass and Rochfortbridge.

Cllr Wallace said that as well as the home into which sewage had risen, the back yard of another property was similarly affected. She said Uisce Éireann has had to empty its system three times.

There have also been issues in Rathwire and Killucan, despite the fact that they are marked on the Irish Water website as green, and thus trouble-free, even though people are aware that the system is having to be emptied regularly.

“I’d like to see real investment,” Cllr Wallace stated, going on to ask if the district could put pressure on Irish Water to get updates on Milltownpass, Kinnegad, Rochfortbridge, Rathwire, Killucan and Raharney, where there are ongoing legacy issues for people in their homes.

Cllr Niall Gaffney said he’s heard of instances where people have had to shovel sewage out of their own gardens, while Cllr Denis Leonard argued that the infrastructure should be in place to make towns sustainable.