The Wileys, a family of six, have lived without access to clean water for more than eleven years. Their daily routine requires them to source water from their water tank first thing in the morning and to depend on help from their friends to do laundry and other chores.
One might assume it is a statutory obligation for the water service to supply everyone with drinking water, however, it is not the case. It is estimated that around 5 to 6000 people in Northern Ireland are not connected to water mains and do not have access to clean water. This is disproportionately affecting people living in rural areas such as the Wileys. Inequalities such as these have an adverse effect on people’s health, both physical and mental wellbeing. In this programme, Iona Wiley tells the story of her struggle for clean water, the obstacles overcome and hopes for a better future.