Councillors make formal complaints over water meters

Two Galway City councillors have made official complaints about the way contractors are installing waters meters across some Galway estates.

The Right2Water Galway campaign has been organising a groundswell of resistance across streets and housing estates, forcing the Irish Water workers away before the job is complete.

Last week a large group of residents in Shantalla held a picket for three days after the contractors had installed four meters, two of them outside households which were opposing the charges.

After negotiations, the contractors agreed to remove the two meters and refill the holes.

The workers have met with minor protests in other areas, including Wellpark, Riverside, College Road and Lower Salthill.

“Resistance has been ongoing on a lot of fronts. We’re being kept really busy. Shantalla was like the community coming together,” explained Dette McLoughlin of Right2Water Galway.

“Usually contractors agree to leave if there’s a picket but that isn’t the same for the next day, so residents have to start a vigil and be on alert from 7am and keep looking out for the vans.

“It’s taking an awful lot of organisation and community spirit. If a single resident is caught out on their own, the call will go out and somebody will join them.”

Some residents have complained on the group’s Facebook page that contractors are telling elderly residents their water will be turned off if they do not agree to have the meters installed.

Councillors Mairéad Farrell (SF) and Mike Cubbard (Ind) have both lodged complaints to Irish Water about its meter rollout in Galway.

They have taken issue about the lack of notice being given by the company and contractors working outside of the installation hours of 7.30am to 7.30pm.

A spokesperson for Irish Water said while the metering project team endeavours to provide notification two weeks before works commence – and a further notification at least three days in advance of the installation – “there are occasions when works have to be re-scheduled at short notice which may impact on these standard procedures”.

Ms McLoughlin said the policy of providing 48 hours notice seems to have been altered in Tuam and has since spread to some Galway estates.

“Some estates are not getting any notice at all. The whole idea of giving notice is to ensure people’s cars aren’t stuck in holes or they don’t run their appliances while the water is being turned off as it can damage washing machines and dishwashers,” she explained.

Cllr Cubbard said he was also aware of damage to walls caused by the workers, with estates being left in ruin and pathways blocked for days on end with no proper traffic management in place.

“With children returning to school, are they expected to walk on the road for days on end as Irish Water block pathways?

“Residents in Carn Ard and Gaelcarrig Park have endured a torrid time. Although many have signs up and clearly told the contractor they do not wish to have a meter, one is forced upon them and installed in some cases at their property,” he complained.

The big positive of the campaign has been the reigniting of community spirit, according to Ms McLoughlin.

“They’re attending meetings, organising rotas for the lookout, some estates even have people on breakfast duty,” she enthused.

“A lot of people are saying they’re getting to know their neighbours they never knew before. It’s creating a huge community spirit. These people are not only talking about water, but about other issues. When canvassers come for the election, people are going to be asking a lot more questions.”