COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF TALLAGHT AREA COMMITTEE (1)

Monday, January 17, 2011

MOTION NO. 10

MOTION: Councillor S. Crowe

That this Council Committee calls on the Manager to outline  what steps, if any, have been introduced since 2009 and 2010 to facilitate residents' access to water in low pressure areas and apartment and duplex buildings like Ard Mór during water shortages and stoppages.

REPORT:

The Water Maintenance Section, during normal service circumstances, provides at least 15 metre head of pressure in the watermains outside any house, apartment, duplex building, etc and it is usually higher than this figure. This is sufficient pressure to feed two storey and probably three storey buildings but not higher buildings. One of the conditions of all Planning Applications that come in to the Council for buildings of more than two storeys states “ Buildings of three storeys or more shall be equipped with balancing tanks and booster pumps on the rising main to top storey units to ensure adequate pressure to top storey units.” This planning condition would apply to all high rise buildings in Ard Mor and surrounding areas.

Where shortages/stoppages are necessarily in place, arrangements are made to allow for water during the day that is sufficient to feed storage tanks. Where the above mentioned arrangements are in place, adequate storage will ensure consistency of supply.Where a burst occurs to a watermain Council staff use the vast network of piping an valves to redirect supply around the affected location where this is possible.

Regrettably given the kind of weather events that have occured in recent times, it is not always possible to ensure that a consistent supply is available to users however, a supply is generally available within 24 hours where the public supply is affected.