"If I don't have water I can't work" - disruption continues for local business

The owner of a launderette in Athlone which has now gone a week without a properly functioning mains water supply said it's been an "incredibly stressful" experience. 

Donna Ryan of Athlone Laundry Services on Castlemaine Street experienced a complete loss of her water supply last Tuesday (September 10) as workers acting on behalf of Irish Water began roadworks to repair watermains on the street. 

The mains supply began to return later in the week but water pressure to Donna's premises remained low. Speaking to the Westmeath Independent yesterday (Monday), she said Irish Water had supplied a "back-up hose" to the side of her building, but the pressure from the mains supply was still very low.

"I'm being told that it's a coincidence, it's an airlock issue, it's the council... nobody's taking responsibility for it," said Donna.   

"I'm 18 years in business and I've never had a problem with water pressure until they started to dig up the street outside."

She said she has been forced to work until late at night and throughout last weekend in order to meet customers' requirements despite the water problems. 

"At the moment the water pressure is haphazard - it's coming and going," she said. 

Donna also stated that she hasn't been told how long the work will be continuing on Castlemaine Street. 

"I haven't been told about that. What affects me is the water supply, because if I don't have water I can't work."

Meanwhile, water supply restrictions are in place in various areas of Athlone today (Tuesday) and into tomorrow.

Parts of the westside of town such as Pearse Street, Connaught Street, the Batteries, Magazine Road, Deerpark Road and Iona Park are to face restrictions until 4pm today, and again from 10pm tonight until 6am tomorrow. 

Restrictions will also be coming into effect from 1pm to 10pm today in areas on the east side of town such as Coosan, Clonbrusk, Hillquarter, Montree, Assumption Road, Beechpark and Arcadia.

Irish Water said both sets of restrictions were needed "to facilitate essential maintenance works at the Athlone Water Treatment Plant."