Pensioners living without drinking water in home

Marshall and Ann Magee, who live at Swallowilly Road, outside Claudy, say they have been told that it is too expensive to build a pump house to bring mains water to their remote rural home.

Mr Magee, who has lived in the area all his life, said he and family members put in a pipe to bring spring water to their home from the hill behind them, but they have now been told it is unsafe to drink.

“We have been told not to drink the water from the tap,” he said.

“We can do our washing with it and we can boil it, but not drink it. Its no way to live. We have to buy bottled water and bring it up to the house.

“We were told by the environmental health people that to build a pump house to bring mains water to the house would cost £8,000 and they did not have that king of money.”

DUP Alderman Graham Warke, said the situation was “unacceptable” and the issue would be raised in council and at Stormont.