Water shortages wreaked havoc throughout the town and across the county over the past week. Longford Co Council has warned that because pipes have burst and reservoir water levels are low, water difficulties will continue for at least another three days.
The worst effected areas presently are: Longford Town; Ballymackeegan; Newtownforbes; Granard; Aughnacliffe; Drumlish; Clondra; Lanesboro and Ballinalee.
The problem in the town first became evident on Christmas Eve morning, when a number of busi
nesses and residents were without water. Residents in Farnagh Hill were without water for three days and a number of homes on the Dublin Road are still without water.
It has also emerged that water mains in Longford town froze up on a number of occasions because of the adverse weather conditions.
A resident who lives in Dun Darrach, Dublin Road, Longford has been without water for six days.
"I have had no water since Christmas Eve and have been unable to use the heating or wash since Christmas Eve because we have a pressurised system and no water has entered our tank since Christmas Eve," the mother-of-three explained.
"I live here with my husband and three children who are now all sick with vomiting and diahorea and it is becoming a nightmare. I feel that I am not getting any help from the county council at all."
She added that she had contacted the Emergency Helpline but had found this service "unhelpful". On December 27, the woman was told that it could take three more days to restore water to her home.
"How can this be acceptable?" she asked. "Can the council not switch the water on so that we can at the very least fill the tanks to allow us to use the heating? Christmas Day we had no water to drink or cook with and there were no shops open to purchase any. Someone has to be answerable to the people of Longford town over this."
Meanwhile in north Longford, the reservoir supplying the town of Granard ran dry last Sunday and the water was subsequently turned off by Longford Co Council. Residents there were without water for 24 hours. The water situation in Granard had a knock-on effect in Abbeylara on Monday morning when the village water supply was temporarily disconnected but was restored to full capicity on Monday afternoon.
Local area representative in Granard, Cllr PJ Reilly said that Longford Co Council warned that it may be forced to cut the water supply in the area again if the problem with the reservoir persists.
"There has been three bursts on the main water supply and the reservoir had emptied out," Cllr Reilly said. "There is also the problem of water bleeding which would include bursts in farmyards or fields and to drinking water. There was also a major burst in the village of Abbeylara on Monday, however the situation has been resolved.
