Homeowners count the cost of Christmas freeze

Date Published: 29-Dec-2010

Hundreds of homeowners and businesses in Galway are counting the cost of damage caused by burst pipes in the post-Christmas thaw – it is estimated the bill for the destruction of premises throughout the county could run into millions of euro.

And while hundreds grapple with the clean-up in the aftermath of water from burst pipes flooding their buildings, thousands more Galway residents are without water as the city and county water reservoirs remain at critically low levels.

Homes and businesses, particularly pubs and restaurants, across Galway are bracing themselves for a New Years Eve and New Years Day without water – the two local authorities say that water cuts in many areas of the county and severe restrictions in the city are set to continue for between five and seven days.

Some residents are entering their third week without water between the initial freeze and now the thaw, which has seen demand for water rocket meaning reservoirs cannot replenish because of burst mains and leaks in stopcocks and burst pipes in homes.

The sudden and rapid thaw in temperatures on St Stephen’s Day brought misery for many householders when burst pipes flooded homes and businesses causing damage to carpets, wooden floors, ceilings, electrical wirings and stock.

Plumbers and insurance companies have been working in overdrive since the thaw and they are expecting a substantial number of calls in the coming days as people who were away, return home from Christmas or business people return to work, to find that their premises have been damaged by flooding.

Independent insurance loss assessor Joe Dolan of Joe Dolan Associates in Tuam has dealt with around 100 incidents of flood damage to property as a result of burst pipes in the two days since St Stephen’s Day.

See full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune.