water shortages and leaks.

sligono1

whats happening i know many who have been with out water for days now and its not frozen pipes around houses townlands are cut off.the Co.Co are asking people to conserve water what about the people that has none and are trying their best to get water .who would be the best person to contact to knock some heads together.

Buford T Justice

sligono1 wrote: »

whats happening i know many who have been with out water for days now and its not frozen pipes around houses townlands are cut off.the Co.Co are asking people to conserve water what about the people that has none and are trying their best to get water .who would be the best person to contact to knock some heads together.

Water services in the council i'd imagine

http://www.sligococo.ie/Services/WaterServices/

Son Of A Vidic

Bang! Christmas day our water went here in Achonry, what fecking timing. The neighbours had none for about 2 days before mine went. Since the house is only 3 years old I thought it would be o.k. It happened last year to the neighbours but my supply was fine. I haven't reported it to anyone and don't know if there's any point really. I'm assuming with a couple more days of thawing the supply will kick back in.

starbelgrade

No water in my house either - there's a lot of houses in Coolaney without water.

fillefatale

In Dunally/Calry area and we've been without water since the 23rd

sligono1

the problem im told by a plumber is that there are leaks and the pressure has droped so the council have just turned off water in areas yet they are not admitting this they are blaming the pipes going into houses,yet there are taking no action so god knows when the repair work will start,many people will have to suffer on with no water.

starbelgrade

The lovely people in O'Gradys in Coolaney are charging €10 for drums of water.

A plastic drum costs around €3... so that's €7 they're making for a few gallons of tapwater that's not even theirs to sell.

Pete M.

sligono1 wrote: »

whats happening i know many who have been with out water for days now and its not frozen pipes around houses townlands are cut off.the Co.Co are asking people to conserve water what about the people that has none and are trying their best to get water .who would be the best person to contact to knock some heads together.

In fairness I would say that everything that can be done is being done.

It was pretty bleedin cold the past few days, or weeks even, so all of the supply system has been put right to the limit, and past it obviously.

Last year our pipes here were frozen pretty much the whole time it was cold, but the supply pipe was on top of the ground
But in Spring I buried the fecker 3 foot down and sorted out the supply properly. Even went so far as to install a meter box, as required.


Don't know if knocking heads together would help (may make one feel better though) but I would say that following the guidelines means there's more to go around for everyone and ensuring that more of those who are currently without water altogether get it back quicker.

Letting the Co.Co. know where there are leaks is a big help afaik

And it's people who have water being asked not to waste it, while if you're without, then I'm sure there are supplies available if you can get to them.

The selling of water, as described, is pretty disgusting really.

This is where people and communities should be helping each other out, not trying to make a quick buck.


and btw full stops aren't in short supply you know............:P

sligono1

yes the co.co have been informed but where other co.co have been out today getting stuck in to the problem,but when you have to resort to going to a river to get untreated water and boil it for use,there are plenty of people who are just scraping together to get through the xmas.and their local shop charging €2 a bottle,takes alot to keep a few kids going in those circumstances.
During the summer when there was a water shortage there was
tanks of water left round to the communites and they very least thats all i would be asking in the short term but hey nothing.

dont know what your emplying with the full stops sneer but give it a rest.theres no place for that crap......................................................................................

Janine87

Neighbours here have water and the house is attached to our one and we don't have any water. So it is the pipe that is coming from the street. Apartments across from us didn't have any water either but they got theirs back this morning. We are still without water since the 25th. God knows when it comes back. Thank god we have very nice neighbours where we can get water anytime. At least we are able to flush the toilet that way. Lol

PaddyMcGinty

We're over in Balinode, the neighbours supply went off on the 23rd, ours went off on Christmas Day.

Janine87

Do no tell me that the county council is cutting off the water???
Our water is still not back! They can't be serious! Neighbours next door still have water though for some reason. Should be sending in a complaint in fairness like! What do they actually think???

PaddyMcGinty

They've given out a mobile number for the emergency water cover. 1 MOBILE NUMBER!!! When you call, there is no reply, straight to voicemail, which is full so you can't leave a message. And the Town Hall is closed until Thursday. :mad:

Bunch of useless monkeys!

Janine87

Apparently we get water back in 2 days. I don't believe in that yet. County council is too slow if you ask me. Just seen a van Sligo water services passing by when I went home. Should have stopped them.

magnumlady

My mum has been without water in Ballinacarrow since the 23rd. Not a sign of it coming back.

snowdaze

my water is just back - so happy! Nothing to do with Sligo Co Co - just had to wait 'til it fully thawed - will have to bury my pipes lower for next year!:D

Wester

snowdaze wrote: »

my water is just back - so happy! Nothing to do with Sligo Co Co - just had to wait 'til it fully thawed - will have to bury my pipes lower for next year!:D

Second that, not the water being back, still no sign, but burying the pipes deeper. Don't fancy a repeat of this Christmas. Still, as my Dad said, it was better than the electricity going off; could you imagine, no heat in this weather we've had.

Janine87

Ireland does need to do something for the next coming years though. Obviously they are absolutely not prepared for frost like this so instead of building this ridculous bridge that no one need anyway they should bury the pipes further!! 1.40m and it will never freeze again.

snowdaze

I agree - but I think it is the responsibility of the homebuilder or homebuyer check this and to sort it out if needed, we must prepare for the next cold spell in advance and not get caught out again:D

kathola

Can someone please explain WHY this has happened again?

I don't understand what is happening to cause the stored treated water to be "lost" as it says on RTE.ie.

The snow and ice thaws, turns back into water and suddenly nobody has any usable water.. I don't get it?

Janine87

Well the person who owns the estate I live in has to bury the pipes again then.
Office is back with water so why not us. Maybe I should ring the co.co and put some pressure on them! This is the 4th day now!!

snowdaze

kathola wrote: »

Can someone please explain WHY this has happened again?

I don't understand what is happening to cause the stored treated water to be "lost" as it says on RTE.ie.

The snow and ice thaws, turns back into water and suddenly nobody has any usable water.. I don't get it?

folk leave taps on day and night - so they won't freeze - huge water wastage

pipes burst - huge water wastage

leaks

and other similar stuff....

Wester

When all of this is over serious consideration will have to be given to how efficient the country's water infrastructure is. Leaking pipes has been a problem since "forever" but local authorities can never seem to get on top of the issue. Water conservation in the home will have to be ramped up also. Re. water pipes running into people's homes and on housing estates etc., is it not the case that local authorities or the dept. of the environment set a minimum depth and that's what people go by? I also recall from last year serious criticism that in a lot of newer estates pipes weren't even set at a minimum depth. Meanwhile, it's day 5 without water for me. Luckily the neighbours aren't affected. I can't imagine whats it's like for people with young families, or the elderly. They are the ones I feel the most for.

Cork4ever

to be fair to the council they are keeping us up to date with http://twitter.com/sligococo and updates on www.sligococo.ie, its updated at least twice a day, might not be good news but at least you know the news

magnumlady

Cork4ever wrote: »

to be fair to the council they are keeping us up to date with http://twitter.com/sligococo and updates on www.sligococo.ie, its updated at least twice a day, might not be good news but at least you know the news

There isn't a it of use with the updates when they are telling you to phone and report problems and you can't because the mobile number is just going to a full mail box and the landline number isn't being answered.

fillefatale

After a week without water, the pipes thawed and its back!

Janine87

I am trying to get through those 2 numbers since lunch time and the mobile number seems to be turned off and the landline is always engaged.
Worst Xmas ever like. My cats gone missing as well.

Buford T Justice

Checked their website and they said they would have a water bowser and standpipe at the old gaol today for water, but I've not seen it.

Not bothering me though, I've been lucky enough not to have had any water problems at all. Phew!

magnumlady

My mum who is in her 70's had to contact the local councillor today. A man from the council came out and reckons the pipes are all still frozen to their area. So that's at least seven houses without water for over a week.

Cork4ever

magnumlady wrote: »

There isn't a it of use with the updates when they are telling you to phone and report problems and you can't because the mobile number is just going to a full mail box and the landline number isn't being answered.

so basically they are dammed if they do and dammed if they don't

this is basically a mother nature problem coupled with people looking after their own ass by leaving taps running or not checking properties where huge leaks are sucking the water from the water network.


i have found the update especially on twitter very usefull and reassuring that the roads where treated and the water siutation was being worked on. i think every one things their own problem is the most important and that if the council aren't working on their problem right now then the logic is that they are not doing anything, maybe the phone was engaged because they where dealing with someone else......did you ever think of that.....

magnumlady

The phone numbers were never engaged when I phone, just ringing and ringing or straight to a mail box.
They are telling people to report problems incase it's a leak but I couldn't get through to report the problem.
Yes I do understand they are extremely busy and if it was about my own water I wouldn't have been so worried but when I have my elderly mother phoning me several times a day (and very distressed) I have to try and do something.
The updates are only useful to people with internet access.

Janine87

I got through the mobile number today. what did they tell me? that the water is probably still frozen! eh that is not what i wanted to hear. they dont care like. 4 houses to the right the house is flooded. water is coming down from the attic down to the bottom of the house!
i hope that doesnt happen to our house

snowdaze

Janine87 wrote: »

I got through the mobile number today. what did they tell me? that the water is probably still frozen! eh that is not what i wanted to hear. they dont care like. 4 houses to the right the house is flooded. water is coming down from the attic down to the bottom of the house!
i hope that doesnt happen to our house

well, I don't have much knowledge of this, but, how about

• checking to see if your attic water tank is empty/full/frozen....
• switching off your water

if your neighbours have an abundance of water then I guess this is not an issue for the Co. Co. but more an issue for your property....

You will know more when you have checked your attic tank......mine was empty - I had completely drained the whole house without knowing it by using it all before I realised the water had frozen.....so I knew it was frozen outside my house...I had to wait 4 days for it to thaw..

fingers crossed yours will be okay too:)

Janine87

snowdaze wrote: »

well, I don't have much knowledge of this, but, how about

• checking to see if your attic water tank is empty/full/frozen....
• switching off your water

if your neighbours have an abundance of water then I guess this is not an issue for the Co. Co. but more an issue for your property....

You will know more when you have checked your attic tank......mine was empty - I had completely drained the whole house without knowing it by using it all before I realised the water had frozen.....so I knew it was frozen outside my house...I had to wait 4 days for it to thaw..

fingers crossed yours will be okay too:)

Hey thanks for your advise first of all.
I don't think the water tank in the attic is frozen though. Nothing is left in it. We were using water fine when we had Christmas dinner. Only after then the water was off which would mean the water supply in the tank is empty.

The switch for the water is off since 3 days. It's on 0. Can't turn off the switch because that turns off the heating as well.

I hope the water will come back tomorrow. I am quite happy now because I was able to wash my hair. Lol but it is still a pain in the ass because flushing the toilet takes the most water. :eek:

Gazzumped

Janine87 wrote: »

Hey thanks for your advise first of all.
I don't think the water tank in the attic is frozen though. Nothing is left in it. We were using water fine when we had Christmas dinner. Only after then the water was off which would mean the water supply in the tank is empty.

The switch for the water is off since 3 days. It's on 0. Can't turn off the switch because that turns off the heating as well.

I hope the water will come back tomorrow. I am quite happy now because I was able to wash my hair. Lol but it is still a pain in the ass because flushing the toilet takes the most water. :eek:

Make sure you don't have an airlock somewhere - this happened to us last year and the attic tank wasn't filling as a result.

T-Bird

Sligo CC came to Grange today and cut off our estates water. Then they set up a tap in the village.........

Janine87

Gazzumped wrote: »

Make sure you don't have an airlock somewhere - this happened to us last year and the attic tank wasn't filling as a result.

What's an airlock?

By the way... Day 5 and still no sign of water!!!

Buford T Justice

They are up the walls at the minute trying to repair leaks. On of the biggest problems is that pipes are bursting in the water meter boxes where they haven't fitted meters yet.

Its going to be a busy time for them at the minute. not much anyone can do I'm afraid.

Janine87

Halleluja!!! Our water came back about an hour ago.
So happy like. About time after 5 days with none.

magnumlady

My mum's water is back on:D

Essexboy

sligono1 wrote: »

yes the co.co have been informed but where other co.co have been out today getting stuck in to the problem,but when you have to resort to going to a river to get untreated water and boil it for use,there are plenty of people who are just scraping together to get through the xmas.and their local shop charging €2 a bottle,takes alot to keep a few kids going in those circumstances.
During the summer when there was a water shortage there was
tanks of water left round to the communites and they very least thats all i would be asking in the short term but hey nothing.

dont know what your emplying with the full stops sneer but give it a rest.theres no place for that crap......................................................................................

Proper punctuation is essential in written English to enable the reader to understand what it is you are trying to say. Spacing with punctuation is also important to make your writing readable. :cool:

magnumlady

Essexboy wrote: »

Proper punctuation is essential in written English to enable the reader to understand what it is you are trying to say. Spacing with punctuation is also important to make your writing readable. :cool:

This is a thread about water not punctuation. Back on topic please.

starbelgrade

A mate of mine had a leak at his stopcock the other day. The council told him to shut the water off or they would shut off the water to the whole estate (which they have yet to take into charge).

After some arguments, the head of the council's water department told him that he would arrange for a plumber to replace the faulty piece, but he would have to dig out the footpath around the stopcock so he could get access to it.

I spent the day before New Years Eve helping him do this. The plumber never came to look at it. In the meantime, he discovered that the problem was not with the pipe, but just a broken seal that could be patched up quite easily.

So I spent New Years Eve helping him fill back in the footpath, which really didn't need to be dug out in the first place.

So, I'll just take this opportunity to say thanks to the council for wasting two full days of my holidays for no good reason.

Keep up the good work lads.

Janine87

Our water is back since Thursday but I knew something is gonna come after still because when the pipes are frozen there is nearly always a damage to it!
Yesterday evening I went out and my mum was still in the house.
The boiler made this huge banging noise. Scary as hell. I had to go back to the house. Didn't know what to do but I didn't expect a noise like that!
Thank god one of the people I went out with was a plumber so he told us what the problems was. The pump needs to be replaced. A disgrace if you ask me though. The house is only 2 years old and it is a brand new estate here!!!:mad:

starbelgrade

Janine87 wrote: »

The boiler made this huge banging noise. Scary as hell. I had to go back to the house. Didn't know what to do but I didn't expect a noise like that!
Thank god one of the people I went out with was a plumber so he told us what the problems was. The pump needs to be replaced.

If your boiler is making a loud banging noise, it's not the pump that needs replacing - the plumber you were with either doesn't have a clue what he is talking about or is just looking to make a few handy quid out of changing the pump, which is an easy job.

The problem of banging in boilers is cause by one of the following;

Scale in the Heating System

The build up of scale can be treated with a chemical descaler, found at most DIY stores. This involves shutting down the system, adding the product and leaving it to work for a few days. The system then needs to be drained, flushed through and refilled.

Boiler Thermostat is Set Too High or is Faulty

Lack of Water or Pressure in the Central Heating System

You will need to double check that the mains water is on. If it is, first turn off your boiler and check your Feed and Expansion Tank - move its metal arm to release the Float valve if it's stuck. Check that the Open Safety-Vent Pipe is correctly installed. Another cause could be that you have a burst pipe somewhere.


Whichever of the above it is caused by, changing the pump will do nothing to remedy the problem.

My advice is to get a plumber in who knows what he's talking about because I'm not a plumber & even I know that it's not the pump that's causing the problem.

Buford T Justice

Firstly, have you an open or closed heating system? (Is there a big red cylinder on the pipework somewhere)

The pump could well be damaged if it froze, it could have easily split the pump

Scale is extremely unlikely to be an issue here.

There may well be no water in the system, but that being the case there is a leak somewhere, and that could easily be related to the pump issue

If there was no water in the boiler, and it did boil over, then it should have tripped the high limit stat which would have shut it off altogether.

All of the above is just speculation though. You do need a plumber in to actually look at the system though, and not just to diagnose it over the phone or 'tinternet.

starbelgrade

Fingers McGee wrote: »

The pump could well be damaged if it froze, it could have easily split the pump

I may have spoken too soon.

As I said, I'm not a plumber, but I would be wary of some plumbers... I had one last year who told me that my pump wasn't working & offered to replace it with a new one.

I checked on the net to get some advice & checked the pump myself. It was working fine and still is working. Since then, I've been very wary of who I get in & have sorted a lot of plumbing issues myself.

But I'm no expert & from reading Fingers' posts on the Heating & Plumbing forum, I would doff my cap to him on this one.

TequilaMockingBird

That used to happen (the noise) in my childhood home. We used to have to let the hot water run out of the taps and it would stop. My father installed the system so I'm assuming it was a botch job, but in an emergency that's what I used to do. It's a scary noise!

starbelgrade

TequilaMockingBird wrote: »

My father installed the system so I'm assuming it was a botch job,

Buford T Justice

TequilaMockingBird wrote: »

That used to happen (the noise) in my childhood home. We used to have to let the hot water run out of the taps and it would stop. My father installed the system so I'm assuming it was a botch job, but in an emergency that's what I used to do. It's a scary noise!

That being the case, then where would one start to look for the problem......

Nice to see you have confidence in you're dad's ability....

TequilaMockingBird

Fingers McGee wrote: »

That being the case, then where would one start to look for the problem......

No idea. Solution though was to move.

<hugs PROPER heating system>