Over 250 Mayo household’s facing escalating water crisis

Local residents originally served by the Johnstown Lavellyroe group water scheme network are facing an escalating water crisis, with repeated bursts on the mains between Loweberry and Cloonfad leaving over 250 households and farming families on the Mayo side of the boarder struggling with an unreliable water supply.

Following the long-awaited connection of the Johnstown Lavellyroe Group Water Scheme in August 2025 to the public supply, what should have marked the end of seven years of hardship has instead brought fresh frustration. The aging and inadequate mains infrastructure is failing under pressure, causing frequent outages and contamination issues that are placing enormous strain on homes, farms, and vulnerable residents.

“This situation is simply not acceptable in this day and age,” said Councillor Alma Gallagher. “Families should not have to choose between brown, contaminated water or an unreliable supply of clean water. After years on a boil water notice, residents believed the nightmare was finally over — but for many, a new one has begun.”

The addition of approximately 250 households to the network has highlighted serious weaknesses in the water mains serving the Cloonfad area. Repeated bursts are disrupting supply, leaving taps dry or running brown, particularly after heavy usage or bad weather.

Farmers in the area are among the worst affected, with many struggling daily to keep livestock watered.

“Farmers are on their knees trying to manage,” Councillor Gallagher said. “Water is not a luxury on a farm — it is essential for animal welfare and livelihoods. The stress and financial burden this is placing on families is enormous.”

Residents report continued reliance on bottled water and storage tanks, while also dealing with damage to appliances and plumbing caused by sediment and discolouration.

“This is a basic public health and quality of life issue,” Councillor Gallagher added. “People are paying for a service they are not receiving. No community in modern Ireland should be living with this level of uncertainty around something as fundamental as clean, reliable water.”

Councillor Gallagher is calling on Uisce Éireann to urgently assess and upgrade the water mains between Loweberry and Cloonfad, to ensure the network can safely and reliably serve the growing population.

“The connection to the main supply was supposed to be the solution. Now we need the infrastructure to match. Residents have been patient for far too long — they deserve action, and they deserve it now.”