IRISH Distillers are still pumping up to 90,000 gallons of water per hour from the grounds around the Midleton Distillery a week after floods hit Midleton.
Tommy Keane, production director, said that they were pumping out 140,000 gallons per hour at the peak of the floods after the Dungourney river burst its banks.
He has met with the County Council to discuss a “cohesive strategic plan” to handle flooding in the future.
The distillery staff were praised for their quick efforts to tackle flooding, as it prevented waters from going further into the town.
“The rainfall and flood was unprecedented. There is a 5m earthen wall around our warehouse. That held the water back to a great extent.
“If it flooded passed that, there would be huge consequences for the town,” he said.
The water damage could also have destroyed production facilities, and the distillery’s stock of whiskeys.
Midleton’s Main Stret during the flooding. The floods could have been much worse in the town had a five-metre wall at Irish Distillers not held back water. Picture:Des Barry
Mr Keane said that if the 20 acres of 2m deep water that built up behind the distillery had not been contained and pumped away, it would have been “catastrophic”
He also praised the Gardaí, Fire Brigade, Council workers, and locals who helped in the efforts.