Boil water notice issued for rural County Waterford

Waterford City & County Council in conjunction with Uisce Éireann has issued a boil water notice for customers on the Ballymacarbry Public Water Supply.

In a statement the local authority said that following consultation with the Health Service Executive (HSE), Uisce Éireann issued the notice to protect the health of around 671 customers of the Ballymacarbry Public Water Supply. The notice was implemented following increased turbidity in the raw water source.

Customers can check if their property is included by visiting the Water Quality section of www.water.ie and entering the property’s Eircode or by calling the Uisce Éireann’s customer care helpline, open 24/7, on 1800 278 278. All consumers affected by the notice must boil their water before drinking.

Some customers supplied by the Ballymacarbry Public Water Supply experienced recent interruptions to their water supply and Uisce Éireann apologised for the inconvenience that caused. 

The local authority said dedicated water services engineers are on site to ensure supply is fully restored as quickly as possible and an alternative water supply is available at the Community Centre in Ballymacarbry for affected customers. However, that water must also be boiled before use.

Commenting on the situation, Maura Phelan, from Uisce Éireann, said: "Public health is our number one priority and we would like to assure customers that the notice has been put in place to protect public health. Our compliance and operations experts are working to lift the notice as quickly and as safely as possible."

Ms Phelan said the water utility understands the impact a Boil Water Notice (BWN) has on a community and apologised for any inconvenience caused.”

"Uisce Éireann’s drinking water standards, as per EU Drinking Water regulations, are strict and include wide safety margins," she said.

Where risks to water quality are identified through Uisce Éireann’s enhanced testing and monitoring programme, the HSE are consulted and BWNs are issued to protect public health. In all instances immediate action is taken to address the cause of the issue to enable the lifting of the notice as quickly as it safe to do so, in agreement with the HSE.

Vulnerable customers who have registered with Uisce Éireann receive direct communication on BWNs. Customers are reminded that the water is safe to consume once boiled. Until such time as the notice is lifted all water must be boiled for: Drinking; Drinks made with water; Preparation of salads and similar foods, which are not cooked prior to eating; Brushing of teeth and Making of ice – discard ice cubes in fridges and freezers and filtered water in fridges and make ice from cooled boiled water.

Customers should use water prepared for drinking when preparing foods that will not be cooked such as washing salads. Water can be used for personal hygiene, bathing and flushing of toilets, however, it can't be used to brush teeth or for gargling.

Water should be brought to a vigorous, rolling boil and allowed to cool. It should then be covered and stored in a refrigerator or cold place. The public is reminded that water from the hot tap is not safe to drink and domestic water filters will not render water safe to drink. When bathing children, caution should be taken to ensure they don't swallow any of the water.

When preparing instant baby formula, it can be done using tap water that has been boiled once and allowed to cool. Bottled water can also be used to make up infant formula. 

All bottled water, with the exception of natural mineral water, is regulated to the same standard as drinking water and it's best not to use bottled water labelled as ‘Natural Mineral Water’ as it could possibly have high levels of sodium (salt) and other minerals.

‘Natural Mineral Water’ can be used if no other water is available, for as short a time as possible, as it is important to keep babies hydrated. 

The local authority and Uisce Éireann also highlighted that great care should be taken with boiled water to avoid accidental burns and scalds, especially with children.

Customers can find out more information through Uisce Éireann's online social media platforms and through its customer care helpline which is open 24/7 on 1800 278 278. Uisce Éireann has also launched a free text service, providing real-time updates for local issues. Customers can sign up with their Eircode and mobile number at www.water.ie