'Water in Roscommon falls below third world standard'

Emmett Corcoran tells independent.ie that his community has reached "breaking point" with the quality of their tap water

Louise Kelly

A businessman from Roscommon has called for companies and households to boycott water charges until the supply is brought up to standard.

Strokestown-based Emmett Corcoran told independent.ie that the people in his community have reached "breaking point" with the quality of their tap water over the last number of months.

Emmett Corcoran

"There are vast areas of Roscommon in particular where the water falls below third world standard. There’s no point in mincing words about it. There are a number of people I have spoken to who have spent eight years buying bottled water, spending up to €40 and €50 a month."

"Furthermore, you have a situation where families are contacting me about their children coming out in rashes. What the exact cause of that is to be determined but, without a doubt, the water services in this county are in no way near what you would be expected to pay for."

"For the people of the region, it’s very simple. They’re not getting a service, they can’t drink the water, they can’t use the water so they’re not going to pay for it."

Mr Corcoran said that his own family have always boiled their municipal water but reports the standard of the water in his home has deteriorated further.

Emmett Corcoran

"It’s gotten to the stage over the last 18 months that boiling it now doesn’t get rid of the discolouration, doesn’t get rid of the smell, doesn’t get rid of the taste," he said.

Mr Corcoran has complained of black spots forming on his clothes after machine washing and has found hot beverages unpalatable using tap water as "scum forms almost immediately". He maintains his family are obliged to purchase water for "essentially everything".

"We have a situation where we have to use it for cooking, for the preparation of food, for boiling water for tea or soup. We have to use it occasionally to wash dishes for a second time as the dishwasher just isn’t washing them properly anymore."

"The cups become very stained. Naturally, this in itself is not hugely life threatening, but it makes you aware that there is something very wrong with the water," he said.