No water – but here’s your bill anyway

Residents in an East Galway village were furious to have received a notice from Irish Water asking for €100 per house . . . for a supply that they do not have.

And many residents contacted by The Connacht Tribune have vowed not to pay a penny to Irish Water as they are not connected to any scheme.

For more than a quarter of a century the residents living in Kilrickle have been trying to get a public water supply and despite countless promises, they still have to resource their own water.

Residents and business people collect rainfall while some have drilled their own wells. Many households face the cost of buying water on a weekly basis.

But the ultimate insult, according to residents, was when they received notices in the post from Irish Water telling them that they would be obliged to pay €100 per year.

“What if we don’t pay?” asked publican and campaigner Dessie O’Brien. “They cannot exactly switch off our water supply since we have none. Maybe they might try and stop the rain”.

He said that anyone he was talking to during the week were adamant that they would not pay a cent to Irish Water and described it as “a slap in the face” to every resident.

“It was just barefaced cheek on the part of Irish Water. We have wasted years trying to get a water supply for the village and surrounding area but we have been shot down on each occasion.

“Several Governments have let us down, the politicians have been useless and now we receive a bill in the post for water. This is scandalous and will not be paid.

“I have stated before that I would love to be in a position to pay a water charge and a group water scheme fee but we do not have that privilege,” Dessie O’Brien added.

Over the years there have been promises to connect the village to the Loughrea scheme and provide a pipe from the town into Kilrickle.

But the cost of providing the supply was considered prohibitive – despite the fact that there was some confusion a couple of years ago as to how much it would cost.

In the meantime, however, the householders in the area have to fend for themselves when it comes to sourcing water.