SINN Féin Kerry County Councillor Pa Daly has said there is huge anger in St. Brendan’s Park in Tralee over the introduction of water charges despite high levels of lead in the water found over the past few months.

Cllr. Daly said that one house in the estate was recently found to have four times the recommended limit due to the presence of lead pipes. He said the estate should be exempt from the charges until the issue has been dealt with.

“There is huge anger in St. Brendan’s Park that they are being forced to pay for water that has dangerous levels of lead in it” said Cllr Daly.

“During the summer one house was found to have four times the recommended limit due to the presence of lead pipes. The regulator has said that only those areas that have been on a Boil Water Notice for at least 24 hours would qualify for an exemption; however St. Brendan’s Park has not been put on notice. In my view they should be exempt from the charges until these pipes have been replaced. I am writing to Irish Water asking them to consider this,” he said.

Cllr Daly also said that households in the Ardfert, Barrow and Fenit area have borne huge costs from damage caused by erosion due the presence of large amounts of lime in their water.

He said immersions, washing machines, and other household utensils have had to be replaced regularly and many people had to pay to install water softeners at great expense. He added that now people are being expected to pay for the water, the least they could expect is water that isn’t costing them on the double.