Boil water notice remains in place on County Waterford public water supply

Uisce Éireann is advising customers on the Kilrossanty Public Water Supply that an existing Boil Water Notice, issued on July 29, will remain in place until further notice.

The notice was issued to protect health of approximately 425 customers due increased turbidity in the raw water source. A spokesperson for Uisce Éireann told Waterford News & Star that sampling will continue and that "every effort is being made to lift the notice as quickly as possible".

Commenting on the matter, Maura Phelan, from the national water utility said: "We understand the impact a Boil Water Notice has on the local community and apologise for any inconvenience caused. Public health is our number one priority and we will continue to monitor the situation."

All consumers affected by the notice must boil their water before drinking. Uisce Éireann is not in a position to provide bottled water to customers for Boil Water Notices, where water is safe to drink once boiled. 

The spokesperson pointed out that the provision of alternative water supplies by way of tankers isn’t of benefit as water from tankers would still need to be boiled to ensure it’s safe to drink. 

"There is also no mechanism under the current regulatory framework to provide compensation to customers who choose to purchase bottled water themselves during a BWN," said the spokesperson.

Water must be boiled for the following uses: Drinking; Drinks made with water; Preparation of salads and similar foods, which are not cooked prior to eating; Brushing of teeth; Making of ice - discard ice cubes in fridges and freezers and filtered water in fridges (make ice from cooled boiled water).

With regard to what actions should be taken, water prepared for drinking should be used when preparing foods that will not be cooked such as salads.

Water can be used for personal hygiene, bathing and flushing of toilets but not for brushing teeth or gargling.

Water should be boiled by bringing it to a vigorous, rolling boil and then allowed to cool. It should be then covered and stored in a refrigerator or cold place.

Water from the hot tap is not safe to drink. Domestic water filters will not render water safe to drink and caution should be taken when bathing children to ensure that they do not swallow the bathing water.

The spokesperson said infant formula can be prepared from tap water that has been boiled once - a rolling boil for one minute - and cooled beforehand.

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, however, it's best not to use bottled water labelled as ‘Natural Mineral Water’ as it can sometimes 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. If bottled water is used to make up infant formula it should be boiled once, and cooled in the normal way. Ready-to-use formula that does not need added water can also be used.

"Great care should be taken with boiled water to avoid burns and scalds as accidents can easily happen, especially with children," said the spokesperson.

Updates are available on the Water Supply Updates section on water.ie, on X @IWCare and through Uisce Éireann's customer care helpline, open 24/7 on 1800 278278.

Uisce Éireann continues to provide detailed, real-time, and local information about water service and supply issues on its website. To register as a vulnerable customer or as an alternative contact, visit www.water.ie/vulnerablecustomer.