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Community Alerts

By Waterford City & County Council

Modeligo Community comes together in solidarity with Ukraine

Modeligo Community comes together in solidarity with Ukraine

The west Waterford community of Modeligo is preparing to welcome two Ukrainian families this month, as renovations on the area’s old parochial house near completion.  The works have been driven by the newly formed Modeligo Community Development group, which is busy preparing to meet the new families.

Pat Fitzgerald, chair of the group said, “Our group came together in response to the refugee crisis with a view to seeing what we could do here in Modeligo.  Five weeks later, thanks to the help of many people, we have a house ready to accommodate two families.”

Appeals were sent to the wider community on social media and via radio with the response from locals and tradespeople being “very positive” according to Kevin Hickey, project manager of the renovation.  Users of Facebook have also been able to keep up with progress on the project with one post thanking the long list of fantastic trades who came and supported the project.

Ivan Grimes, Waterford City and County Council’s Director of Services for Housing commented that “while the humanitarian crisis has proved a challenge, the local authority is now in a position to move some families out of our 4 rest centres, including the two families who will benefit from this excellent community initiative in Modeligo – two women and six children – who were previously accommodated here in Waterford city.”

On Friday last, 13th May, Olena A, Vera, and Olena S along with their children, paid a visit to the parochial house to view the community efforts, and the area, for themselves.  The three boys and a girl will start at the local national school, and two older girls will start secondary school at Blackwater Community School.  The children were welcomed with open arms by the teachers and pupils and are very much looking forward to starting their new journey.

Sinéad Breathnach of Waterford City and County Council’s Response Team added,  “The families are most grateful to the people of Waterford and Modeligo in particular, and are looking forward to their move to long term accommodation and integrating into the Modeligo community.”

A dedicated phone line and email address have been set up by the Council to receive pledges of accommodation for Ukrainian refugees at pledge@waterfordcouncil.ie or by calling 058 22059.

By Waterford City & County Council

Advanced Notice : Temporary Road Closure : Mayor’s Walk, Waterford

Notice is hereby given that Waterford City and County Council, in exercise of its powers pursuant to Section 75 Roads Act 1993, will close the following public road to through traffic from 4th to 8th July, 2022 to facilitate New Connection for Irish Water.

Road to be closed:
• L1511 Mayors Walk, Waterford.

Diversion Route:
• Via Newgate Street and Manor Hill &
• Via Newport Terrace to Ballybricken Green

By Waterford City & County Council

Boil Water Notice at Ballymacarbry Water Supply Scheme

Effective Date of Boil Water Notice: 13th May 2022

Due to a deterioration in raw water quality, the drinking water entering the Ballymacarbry
Public Water Supply may be affected.

As a result, and following consultation with the Health Service Executive, Irish Water and
Waterford City and County Council are issuing a Boil Water Notice with immediate
effect to protect the health of consumers.

This notice applies to all consumers supplied by the Ballymacarbry Public Water
Supply including the following areas:

  • Ballymacarbry
  • Castlereagh
  • Knockalisheen
  • Nire

All consumers affected by this notice must boil their water before drinking.
A map of the Ballymacarbry Public Water Supply, detailing the areas affected, is
available on www.water.ie and from here.

1: Water must be boiled (rolling boil for 1 minute and then cooled) for:
 Drinking
 Preparing Drinks made with water
 Preparation of salads and similar foods, which are not cooked prior to eating
 Brushing of teeth and/or gargling
 Making of ice. However, ensure you first discard all existing ice cubes in fridges
and freezers and filtered water in fridges

IMPORTANT: Boil water by bringing to a vigorous, rolling boil and allow to cool. Cover
and store in a refrigerator or cold place. Water from the hot tap of kitchen or bathroom
sinks is not safe to drink.

2: You do not have to boil your water for the following:
 Personal hygiene, baths and showers
 Flushing of toilets
 Watering plants and flowers

3: Caution:
 Domestic water filters will not render water safe to drink
 Caution should be taken when bathing children to ensure that they do not
swallow the bathing water
 Discard ice cubes in fridges and freezers and filtered water in fridges. Make ice
from cooled boiled water
 If you have pets and are concerned about the impact of providing mains water
while this BWN is in place, you should ask your local vet for advice

4: Only use Prepared Water (boiled and cooled) for the following situations.
 When preparing foods that will not be cooked (e.g. washing and preparing salads)
 Preparing Infant Formula. Where a Boil Water Notice is in place, you can
prepare infant formula from tap water that has been boiled once (rolling boil for 1
minute) and cooled beforehand. Bottled water can also be used to make up infant
formula. All bottled water, with the exception of natural mineral water, is regulated
to the same standard as drinking water. It is best not to use bottled water labelled
as ‘Natural Mineral Water’ as it can have high levels of sodium (salt) and other
minerals, although it rarely does. ‘Natural Mineral Water’ can be used if no other
water is available, for as short a time as possible, as it is important to keep babies
hydrated. If bottled water is used to make up infant formula it should be boiled
once (rolling boil for 1 minute) and cooled in the normal way. Ready-to-use formula
that does not need added water can also be used.

5: Always Take Care:
Care should be taken with boiled water to avoid burns and scalds. Accidents can easily
happen, especially with children.

6: How long before the boil water notice can be lifted?
We do not know at present, but Irish Water and Waterford County Council will
continue to liaise and consult with the Health Service Executive with a view to lifting the
Boil Water Notice as soon as practicable

7: How will we keep you informed?
You will be kept informed through the following media:
Website: www.water.ie
Irish Water Customer Contact Centre: 1800 278 278
Vulnerable customers who have registered their details with IW will be directly
contacted

8: Awareness for commercial premises
Irish Water requests that this Boil Water Notice is placed in a prominent position
within your commercial premises.

Remember to boil water as advised until further notice

By Waterford City & County Council

New Exercise Equipment for People’s Park

Waterford’s People’s Park will soon have new adult exercise equipment following a replacement of the existing equipment which was beyond feasible repair.

Working with Waterford Sports Partnership suitable equipment was selected, tendered and Browne Bros Ltd, Cork were awarded the contract.

Installation is expected approx. mid July 2022. The design of the equipment can be seen in the PDF below and will be located east of the Skate Park.

By Waterford City & County Council

Public Participation: Identification of Bathing Waters 2022

Local authorities must identify official bathing areas in their area every year so that they can be monitored for safety, water quality and their level of use.  To help with this process, Waterford City & County Council are asking people who swim at beaches, lakes and rivers to tell them if they think they should maintain existing designated bathing waters designations or give a new official bathing area designation to areas that are commonly used for swimming, but not identified at the moment.

Under European and Irish law, Irish local authorities must identify bathing waters each year so that these areas can be monitored to ensure they meet stringent microbiological water quality standards. In some cases, the official bathing areas are also the areas where local authorities focus their resources providing lifeguards during the summer season.  These laws also require that the local authority prepares detailed descriptions or profiles for each of the identified bathing water sites that describe not just the bathing area but also areas in the surface waters catchment area that could be a source of pollution. The profiles include an assessment the risk of pollution and what action would be taken if pollution occurs.

If you are a regular swimmer and want to help your Council decide which bathing areas should be classified as such, it might be helpful to consider the following:

  • How your swimming area has been used up to now;
  • How many people use the site;
  • What facilities exist at the site and how accessible it is;
  • Any safety issues.

If you wish to propose your favourite beach/river, as a new bathing water site or comment on an existing site please do so ONLINE HERE.

Closing date for submissions is 9th June 2022. 

ENDS

Note to editors: Local authorities are required under the Bathing Waters Directive and the Bathing Water Quality Regulations 2008 (SI No 79 of 2008) to identify bathing waters on an annual basis. The Directive requires that water quality at all designated bathing waters meets stringent microbiological standards in order to protect the health of people who choose to bathe there.

By Waterford City & County Council

Launch of the Quaker Trail and CQ Films in Waterford Cultural Quarter

Launch of Quaker Trail and CQ Films April 28th at Waterford Gallery of Art. Pictured are Roger Johnson, Joan Johnson, Mayor of Waterford City and County Cllr Joe Kelly, Katherine Collins, Emma Haran

Mayor of Waterford City and County, Councillor Joe Kelly, launched the Quaker Trail and CQ films on Thursday April 28th in Waterford Gallery of Art, O’Connell Street, Waterford.

Waterford City and County Council, along with local historians and researchers, has developed two historical projects based on the heritage of Waterford Cultural Quarter. Both are available at www.waterfordculturalquarter.ie The Quaker Trail is a printed and digital walking trail, researched by archivist Joan Johnson, which highlights important sites relating to the heritage of the Quaker community in Waterford city. The first Quakers arrived in Waterford in 1655 as refugees as many were fleeing from religious persecution in England. Within 150 years of arriving here most of the families had moved to O’Connell Street and had become highly successful in business.

Families such as Jacobs, famous for biscuit making, and Penrose, instrumental in establishing the celebrated Waterford Crystal glass are two well known Quaker family names. The Waterford Municipal Art Collection was formed by Quaker families and this important collection of art is now exhibited in the Waterford Gallery of Art on O’Connell Street.

The second project launched is CQ Films. Waterford Youth Arts have put an enormous amount of work into researching, filming, editing & producing 16 beautifully made films about the heritage of O’Connell Street. These short films aim to show visitors and locals alike some stories from this area’s past told by people who grew up, worked or played there. Stories and anecdotes about the neighbours on Bridge St, Sinead O’Connor’s debut in T&H Doolans, the naming of O’Connell Street, are all told by the people who know the area intimately. This social history project was carried out by Ollie Breslin, Keith Currams and Tomás Fitzgerald with funding from Waterford Cultural Quarter, Waterford Arts Office and Creative Waterford.

Katherine Collins, Waterford Cultural Quarter Project Manager said “As the Cultural Quarter develops it is vitally important that we recognise and value the heritage of this area of our city. O’Connell Street was the hub of enterprise in the city due to its proximity to the port and we aim to develop this area to again be a place to celebrate all cultures, heritage, creativity and collaboration. The Quaker Trail and CQ Films are available at www.waterfordculturalquarter.ie and we encourage locals and visitors alike to enjoy visiting the area and learning more about our history.”

ENDS

By Waterford City & County Council

Water Safety Press Release: Holiday Weekend

May Bank Holiday Water Safety Appeal from Coast Guard, RNLI and Water Safety Ireland

In the lead up to the May bank holiday weekend, the Coast Guard, RNLI and Water Safety Ireland have issued a joint water safety appeal, asking people to take some basic steps to stay safe, as incidents continue to occur as the weather improves and more people visit waterways nationwide or participate in coastal and inland aquatic activities.

There has been a seasonable increase in the overall number of search and rescue incidents with activity levels similar to recent years. The three organisations are drawing particular attention to the need for people involved in sea kayaking and similar activities, to receive proper training before going on the water, to carry a reliable means of calling for help and to tell someone where you are going and what time you will be back. Water temperatures remain cold even at this time of year and Cold Water Shock can affect everyone. The three organisations advise everyone intending to take part in any water-based activity or coastal walks to take some basic steps in advance to keep safe.

If heading out on the water or visiting the coast:

· Always check the weather and tides

· Carry a reliable means of raising the alarm (i.e. VHF radio or phone)

· Tell someone where you are going and what time you will be back

· Wear a suitable Personal Flotation Device on the water

· Watch out for incoming tides to avoid getting cut off. With High Tides ranging from midday to early evening depending on the part of the coast, it is important that people check before walking along the coast.

If you are swimming:

· Water temperatures are still cold at this time of the year, consider wearing a wetsuit to stay warm

· Acclimatise slowly

· Wear a bright swimming cap and consider a tow float to increase your visibility

· Never swim alone and always ensure that your activity is being monitored by a colleague

Micheál O’Toole, Irish Coast Guard Operations Manager, said: It is important to have a means of communication if engaging in any water based activity. When boating, carry a VHF radio, backed up by flares PLB (Personal Locator Beacon) or EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon). Never solely rely on a mobile phone. Prior to undertaking any boat activity please ensure that equipment is fit for purpose and that a shore-based contact is aware of your plans and estimated duration.”

Kevin Rahill, RNLI Water Safety Lead, added: ‘Many people will be taking to the water for the first time this year and this is a good time to think about checking your equipment, especially your lifejacket. We recommend that people get their lifejackets serviced annually. Not everyone intends to end up in the water. If you fall in unexpectedly, remember to ‘Float to Live’ – lie on your back and spread your arms and legs, gently moving them to keep afloat. Keep floating until you feel your breath coming back before calling for help or swimming ashore if nearby. For visitors and people new to our shores, the RNLI has a range of translated safety resources in many languages which are available to download here: https://rnli.org/safety/multi-lingual-resources

Roger Sweeney, Water Safety Ireland’s Acting CEO, cautions: ‘Muscle cooling due to hypothermia is a factor in many drownings. Swim within your depth and keep it short as warm air does not mean warm water, especially in May. Children require close, constant, uninterrupted supervision. When shoreline walking, beware of being stranded by incoming tides. Many recently arrived Ukrainians have never visited a beach and are unfamiliar with such stranding risks. Please help to keep them safe by reaching out in your community with the translated advice at www.watersafety.ie/ukraine

If you see somebody in trouble on the water or along the coast, or think they are in trouble; Dial 112 or use VHF radio CH 16 and ask for the Coast Guard. Be Summer Ready at www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/9e76d-be-summer-ready

Ends

By Waterford City & County Council

Planned Road Closure tomorrow – John Roberts Square and Broad Street

In order to facilitate a “Celebration of Waterford as Ireland’s Best Place to Live”, there will be no access to vehicular traffic to John Roberts Square and Broad Street from 8am to 6pm on Saturday, April 30th.

This free family event in the heart of the city will feature lots of great music, fun, family-friendly activities and workshops for children from 12 noon to 6pm.

This road closure will allow the contractor to erect entertainment stages / facilities in John Roberts Square.

John Roberts Square and Broad Street will remain open to pedestrian traffic.

By Waterford City & County Council

Planned Road Closure this weekend – John Roberts Square and Broad Street

In order to facilitate a “Celebration of Waterford as Ireland’s Best Place to Live”, there will be no access to vehicular traffic to John Roberts Square and Broad Street from 8am to 6pm on Saturday, April 30th.

This free family event in the heart of the city will feature lots of great music, fun, family-friendly activities and workshops for children from 12 noon to 6pm.

This road closure will allow the contractor to erect entertainment stages / facilities in John Roberts Square.

John Roberts Square and Broad Street will remain open to pedestrian traffic.

By Waterford City & County Council

New Exercise Equipment for People’s Park

Waterford’s People’s Park will soon have new adult exercise equipment following a replacement of the existing equipment which was beyond feasible repair.

Working with Waterford Sports Partnership suitable equipment was selected, tendered and Browne Bros Ltd, Cork were awarded the contract.

Installation is expected approx. mid July 2022. The design of the equipment can be seen in the PDF below and will be located east of the Skate Park.

By Waterford City & County Council

National Community Engagement Day

On Wednesday 27th April, An Garda Síochána, IFA and the members of the National Rural Safety Forum will invite local community members to partake in the National Community Engagement Day.

The day, last held in 2020 will involve over 800 communities from across the country meeting with their local Gardaí and community representatives to discuss matters of importance to them such as rural safety, crime prevention and security. The meetings will be informal and will last approximately one hour.

Assistant Commissioner Paula Hilman, from Roads Policing and Community Engagement, An Garda Síochána said:

“An Garda Síochána is delighted to partner with the IFA and other key stakeholders from the National Rural Safety Forum for a National Community Engagement Day to take place in 300 venues across the country on Wednesday, 27th April 2022. The National Community Engagement Day will provide an opportunity for people from all our communities, both rural and urban, to meet with their local gardaí. I especially welcome the event this year as it is the first time since 2020 that it could take place owing to Covid-19 restrictions. Engagement, partnership and problem solving with local communities is essential to our mission of keeping people safe. Members of An Garda Síochána will use this as an opportunity to meet informally with local communities, listen to their concerns, discuss ways to work collaboratively to reduce crime and fear of crime and offer crime prevention advice”.

Brian Rushe, IFA Deputy President and Co-Chair of the National Rural Safety Forum has commented that:

“It is crucial that we all work together to serve the best interests of people at risk in our communities and the National Community Engagement Day is the perfect platform for this. Community reassurance and crime prevention initiatives are at the centre of community welfare. IFA is thrilled to be working with An Garda Síochána and all members of the National Rural Safety Forum on this great initiative and are urging all communities to come out on the 27th April to make it a memorable day.”

#CommunityEngagementDay

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