Water may be ferried to Aran Islands as shortages force cuts

Date Published: 24-Aug-2011

By Bernie Ní Fhlatharta

Water may have to be ferried out to the Aran Islands if it doesn’t rain in the next few days.

The smallest of the islands, Inis Oírr, has experienced water shortage problems for the past months with the main public water supply being turned off at night.

However, with the continuing drought, this restriction has now been extended from 6pm every evening to 11am in the mornings.

And Inis Meáin next door hasn’t fared any better. It has been reported anecdotally that the island has only seen two days’ rain since April and if they don’t get rain within the next seven days, there will be a serious water shortage.

Galway County Council have imposed the restrictions to give the reservoirs on each island a chance to refill so householders are advised to let their water tanks fill up and ration it until the mains are turned on again the following morning.

The desalination plant on Inis Meáin, which had been operated by the local co-op, is no longer functioning since the co-op disbanded and that had greatly helped to recyle sea water which was then pumped into the reservoir.

All of the three islands have enjoyed a bumper tourism season a

Read more in today’s Connacht Tribune