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Ballivor residents left without water amid soaring temperatures
Residents of Ballivor, County Meath, endured a multi-day water outage during Ireland's hottest week of the year, as the country recorded its highest May temperatures on record.
Outage disrupts daily life
Parts of the village were without running water from Sunday, forcing the local school to close and leaving households unable to flush toilets, shower, or access safe drinking water. Aontú councillor Dave Boyne described the situation as "mayhem," comparing it to "living in a third world country."
Residents relied on bottled water deliveries, with volunteers going door-to-door to assist those unable to leave their homes. Gareth Ferguson, a local resident, said the outage lasted four days, with the longest previous disruption in 2021 stretching to six days.
"People can't flush the toilet, take a shower-it's like living in a third world country."
Dave Boyne, Aontú councillor
Infrastructure struggles under climate pressure
Social Democrats councillor Ronan Moore attributed the outages to "creaking infrastructure" unable to handle increased demand and climate shifts. Ferguson, who moved to Ballivor in 2019, noted that outages have worsened over time, occurring weekly by 2021 and requiring emergency tankers from nearby towns.
The recent heatwave exacerbated the crisis, with Ferguson adding: "Hygiene pretty much goes out the window. Some residents pay to use gym showers or rely on family in other towns."
Protests and promised upgrades
Frustration over the recurring issue led to protests in 2021 and again this Thursday. Uisce Éireann, the national water provider, acknowledged the problem, stating that upgrade works-including a water storage expansion-will begin on 8 June, with major improvements scheduled for 22 June.
"Water mains improvement works are also being planned. Once we obtain the required licence, we will advise customers of the timeline."
Uisce Éireann spokesperson
Long-term concerns remain
Independent councillor Noel French confirmed water was restored after tankers supplied the village but stressed that residents "deserve a decent water supply." Ferguson echoed concerns about the safety of tap water, noting that most villagers rely on bottled water even when supplies are functioning.
