THE WEST:CONNACHT REMAINS on flood alert today, as a combination of weather and high tides continues to have an impact on a heavily swollen Shannon river and tributaries.
Galway County Council has also extended a boil water notice for the public water supply to large parts of the county, north, east and south of Galway city.
Recent sampling results indicate that the mid-Galway regional water supply scheme has become “contaminated”, the local authority said yesterday.
The boil water notice will extend from Abbeyknockmoy in the north to Ballydavid in the south, Bracklooin in the east and Coolarn in the west. It also includes Monivea and Colemanstown.
Group water schemes in Abbert, Ard Aobhin, Kiltullagh, Cuillagh, Mira, Coolarne and an area to the south of the Galway-Dublin railway line known as the mid-Galway phase 4 scheme are also included in the alert.
A similar notice is already in place in Ballinasloe, Co Galway, where a major clear-up has begun as levels on the river Suck have dropped. Water must be boiled for drinking, preparation of salads and foods which are not cooked, teeth brushing and ice-making, the local authority says, and full details are on its website, www.galway.ie
An easing of flood levels in the east and south of the county has resulted in a continuing clean-up in Ballinasloe and in Gort, where businesses are endeavouring to catch up on lost revenue when Crowe Street was closed. Pumps are continuing to extract large volumes of water from the street, and diversions are still in place through the south Galway town.
In southeast Galway, flood levels were still very high in Clonfert and Meelick, where the Shannon burst its banks and spread across a 3km stretch of land last Friday morning. A community effort involving the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA), GAA and neighbours is still continuing to try and protect homes.
“Water has dropped by 2in but we are worried about heavy rain forecast,” IFA Connacht vice-president Michael Silke said.
A number of roads are still closed in the county, including the N18 Galway-Limerick road at Kiltartan which has been closed now for over a week since a wall was demolished.
Vehicles bound for Gort and Ennis are being diverted via Loughrea.
The N63 Galway-Roscommon road remains impassable between Horseleap Cross and Moylough. The R339 Galway-Monivea road is impassable between Carnmore cross and Barret’s Park junction, except for local access.
Bus Éireann says that the Dublin-Ballina-Dublin service is experiencing delays of up to 25 minutes due to flooding in Carrick-on-Shannon, Co Leitrim.
Services southwards from Galway are experiencing delays of up to 20 minutes due to road closures and diversions, it says.
Galway West TD Noel Grealish (Ind) has called on Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan to introduce a scheme to indemnify householders who were affected by the recent flooding before they begin to refurbish their homes.
HSE West has opened a counselling helpline for flood victims, which will be staffed by psychology and social work professionals. It will be open from 9.30am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday, at freephone number 1800-245 600. A separate HSE information line for practical services has been opened at 1800 283 036.
Galway County Council’s emergency phone line is 091-509309.