Cllr Catherine Burke is calling for action on water and wastewater infrastructure in the Woodlands Estate in Portlaw and seperately in Bunmahon.

It follows ongoing concerns over the private water supply at Woodlands Estate, where 76 homes are supplied by a private well and are not connected to the public water network.

The issue came to a head earlier this month when Campion Operations Limited withdrew from maintaining and monitoring the well. The annual maintenance fee had increased from around €250 to more than €425.

WLR previously reported that the owner of Campion Operations Limited, Martin Campion, was owed €25,000 in unpaid fees from residents since last year.

Waterford City and County Council has since issued a formal legal Direction in relation to the private water supply, requiring a plan to be submitted by September 1st.

Cllr Burke says the long term solution for Woodlands is to connect the estate to the public water supply.

She says she has been lobbying Uisce Éireann alongside Conor McGuinness TD and David Cullinane TD, with a commitment now in place for a public connection in the third quarter of 2027.

However, she says efforts are continuing to bring that timeline forward, with Uisce Éireann currently working through the process of appointing a project manager and preparing for the tendering of the works.

Cllr Burke says an interim arrangement will also be needed for residents while that process continues, including discussions around the cost of the private water supply and a service level agreement.

Meanwhile, Cllr Burke is also calling for wastewater infrastructure to be delivered in Bunmahon.

She says the current wastewater system is out of date, overflowing and at capacity, and is asking residents to make submissions to Uisce Éireann to ensure Bunmahon is prioritised.

Cllr Burke says there are concerns about raw sewage entering the river and says a proper wastewater treatment system is needed for the village.

She says the lack of capacity is also preventing new homes from connecting to the public wastewater supply.

Cllr Burke says delivering a proper wastewater treatment system would allow more people to live in the village and could help support local services, including shops and schools.

She says rural communities need to be prioritised and that Bunmahon should receive the investment needed to address its wastewater problems.