A meeting is due to take place tonight between local representatives and the developer of adjacent lands to the Woodlands Estate in Portlaw as concerns continue over the future of the estate’s private water supply.

Residents in the estate were informed last week that Campion Operations Limited will withdraw its maintenance and monitoring services for the private well supplying the homes from August 14th.

The move comes following a dispute over increased annual charges for maintaining the supply.

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

Private well supplies more than 70 homes

The water supply for Woodlands Estate comes from a private well located on adjacent land owned by the developer.

The agreement for the water supply is between the residents and the private landowner, with the landowner having a separate agreement with Campion Operations Limited to maintain and monitor the well.

Independent councillor Declan Clune said the landowner is not withdrawing the water supply, but that concerns remain over what happens once Campion ends its involvement.

“The developer owns the adjacent field where the well is located and that well supplies all 76 houses in the Woodlands Estate,” Cllr Clune said.

“At this moment in time, the water is absolutely fine, but that cannot be guaranteed once the contractor who maintains the well ceases servicing it.”

Campion issues 14 day notice

In a letter sent to residents dated July 31st, Campion Operations Limited confirmed that its services would end on August 14th.

The company said the current maintenance charge had increased to €35.47 per month, or €425.63 annually, compared to the previous charge of €249.70.

Campion said the decision followed discussions with the Woodlands Residents Committee and that no agreement was reached on future service charges and the costs involved in maintaining the supply.

The company also confirmed it would notify Waterford City and County Council that it would no longer be responsible for maintaining or monitoring water quality at the site.

It warned that a boil water notice may be required as a precautionary measure once its services end.

Concerns over breakdowns and water quality

Cllr Declan Clune said one of the main concerns is what happens if there is an issue with the well after Campion withdraws.

He said there would be concerns around the response time if the pump failed or if maintenance was required.

“The situation is that in two weeks’ time, the contractor who maintains the water supply, the well, in terms of if there is a breakdown, the water quality, etc, he is pulling out,” Cllr Clune said.

“So effectively, the estate may be on a boil water notice because the quality of the water cannot be guaranteed.”

He added that another concern is the possibility of the water supply being interrupted if there is a mechanical failure.

“If a pump breaks down or if there is some maintenance issue with the well, there will potentially be nobody there to react quickly to fix it.”

Previous issues over payments

The latest development follows previous concerns at the estate relating to disagreements over water charges.

Cllr Clune said there had been issues in previous years where some households had paid their fees while others had not.

He said the majority of residents are now fully paid up, with some households receiving credits following recent payments.

However, he said the main issue this year was the increase in the annual fee from around €250 to more than €425.

He said residents had attempted to engage with the contractor to find a resolution but that no agreement was reached.

Developer urged to maintain supply

Sinn Féin TD David Cullinane said residents must have their right to a safe and reliable water supply protected.

He called on the developer to ensure that water services and monitoring continue without interruption until the estate is connected to the public water network.

Deputy Cullinane said residents should not be left caught between a dispute involving private parties.

Sinn Féin TD Conor McGuinness has also raised concerns and said residents must have access to a safe and adequate water supply.

Waterford Council not responsible for the well

Cllr Clune said Waterford City and County Council took over parts of the estate’s infrastructure in 2013, including areas such as footpaths, green areas and street lighting.

However, the council did not take over the water supply, which remained with the developer.

He said Waterford Council has no responsibility for the private well supplying the homes.

Uisce Éireann connection could take years

Cllr Clune said Uisce Éireann officials recently visited the estate to assess the possibility of connecting Woodlands Estate to the public water network.

He said the assessment found that the existing water infrastructure within the estate was in reasonable condition.

However, he said a connection to the public mains is not expected to happen quickly.

Cllr Clune said Uisce Éireann may only assign a project manager towards the end of the year and that the connection could still be three to five years away.

He said efforts are being made to escalate the issue given the latest developments.

Credit given to some residents

Campion Operations Limited also confirmed that credits had been applied to households following its decision to withdraw services.

The company said residents who had paid the previous annual charge of €249.70 were considered paid in full up to July 31st, 2026, with a credit of €175.93 applied for the period from August to December.

Campion said households who had overpaid would receive refunds, while those with remaining balances were asked to settle their accounts.

Meeting to discuss next steps

A meeting between local representatives and the developer is scheduled to take place tonight to discuss the future of the water supply.

Cllr Clune said the focus will be on finding out the developer’s plans and ensuring residents have clarity on the situation.

He said the agreement for the water supply is between the residents and the developer, and that the contractor’s withdrawal does not change that arrangement.

The meeting will look at what measures can be put in place following Campion’s withdrawal on August 14th.