COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF CLONDALKIN AREA COMMITTEE

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

MOTION NO. 13

MOTION: Councillor B. Bonner

That the Manager would present a report on the recent flooding in the Woodford / Monksfield area of Clondalkin focusing on the following aspects:-

1. Response of Council on the night.  Residents feel this was inadequate though they do accept that there was a countywide emergency on the night in question.

2. Clean up of the roads, houses and gardens that were inundated with a mixture of flood water and sewage.  Residents feel that not enough was done in this regard and that there is a real health and safety issue here.

3. What is the history of flooding at these locations?  Is it true that the drainage system installed by the builders has never been adequate and that a new sewer was installed to which the houses at Woodford Downs have not been connected?

4. What can be done to address the problems at this location and can a meeting be held with residents to explain what can be done?

REPORT:

In answer  to the questions raised in this motion the Drainage Section would like to reply as follows:-

1. The Drainage Section were present on the night of the 24th of October 2011 in the cul de sac in Woodford Downs where unfortunately approximately 10 houses, Nos 68 to 86 (even),  were flooded with the intense rainfall. One of these houses, No. 74, was also flooded with sewage. The Drainage Crew attempted to alleviate the flooding of these houses by pumping the water from this hammerhead into the green area beside these houses but unfortunately this green area was saturated and higher than the road and house floor levels in the cul de sac and a certain amount of water flowed back into the hammerhead.

2. The day after the deluge on the 24th of October 2011, the Drainage Crew were back cleaning up the road in Woodford Downs and the bottom end of Monkfield Lawns near the entrance to the Knockmitten Centre where sewage had split onto the road. They also cleaned and disinfected houses and gardens in the area with this work continuing during the week.  Roadsweeper trucks were also brought in to clean the roads and gullys.

3. There is a history of problems with the foul sewage in the Monksfield Lawns/ Woodford Downs area and that is why a new parallel  foul sewage pipe was layed from No. 37 Monkfield Lawns out into the park across the entrance to Knockmitten Centre to Woodford Downs last year by the Drainage Direct Labour crew to help alleviate the pressure on the existing sewers at the bottom end of Monksfield Lawns and Woodford Downs. This works seems to have been quite successful resulting in less call outs to this area. A grit trap was also installed on this foul sewer upsteam at Boomer's Pub and this is regularly cleaned out. This foul sewage line because of past problems is regularly flushed, jetted and cleaned out. In the coming months, a major review of this system will be undertaken with a CCTV survey to identify any blockages or breaks in the pipes which if present will be immediately repaired.

4. The Drainage Section is willing to meet Representatives of this area to explain what they have done and what they propose to do on the existing Foul and Surface Water Sewers in this area and upstream.