Diesel oil spill at reservoir leaves thousands without water
Up to 8,000 households in County Roscommon have been left without water following a diesel oil spill at a reservoir.
Council chiefs are following a definite line of enquiry as to the source of the flow into Lisheen Lake, near Strokestown, which has been described as a huge disaster for the area.
Homes, business and schools in Strokestown, Elphin, Rooskey, Tarmonbarry and adjoining areas are among those without any running water until at least Thursday morning.
Kieran Madden, senior engineer with Roscommon County Council, today said he was almost 100% satisfied that the spillage of diesel oil was accidental but investigations are continuing.
It is believed tanks were being filled which overflowed into a local stream which ran into the lake, the water supply for the area, but those responsible did not realise the consequences of the incident.
The first the council knew about the polluted lake was when an officer spotted diesel yesterday morning.
Mr Madden told RTE radio: “Specialists are currently trying to skim the diesel off the lake and cleaning down the reservoir and will take today and tomorrow to get that clean. Then the lake and its source will be examined again.
“If it’s still contaminated we won’t be able to put on the water but hopefully we will be able to switch on water the day after tomorrow.”
Schools in the area have closed and tankers are supplying a temporary water supply in the main towns. Special provisions have also been made for the two main nursing homes and the council is also calling for residents to check on the well-being of elderly neighbours.
Tom Crosby, chair of Roscommon County Council, has called for the perpetrators to be brought before the courts and made pay for the clean-up operation.
In the last 24 hours he received numerous calls from distressed residents, including a mum with two young children.
“This is a huge disaster in this area which has effected a huge number of households and families,” he said.
“The perpetrators of this must be called to justice, must be brought to justice so it never happens again. At the very minimum they must pay for the cost of this.”
