Community Alerts

Do Not Consume Notice issued for customers supplied by Ballyogarty Public Water Supply 

Monday,  29 July, 2024:  Following consultation with the Health Service Executive (HSE), Uisce Éireann has issued a Do Not Consume Notice for all customers on the Ballyogarty Public Water Supply Scheme in Co Waterford with immediate effect.

This notice has been issued to protect the health of customers on the supply following the detection of an exceedance of arsenic in the supply.

Please note this is not a Boil Water Notice. Boiling the water is not a suitable measure to make the water safe to consume. It is especially important that mains drinking water is not given to bottle fed infants.

There is a requirement to interrupt the water supply through the night from 11pm with supply returning early tomorrow morning (30 July 2024). Please note the Do Not Consume will remain in place after supply returns.

The notice applies to all areas supplied by the Ballyogarty Public Water Supply including Ballyogarty, Graigueshoneen, Cooltubrid East and areas of Kilmacthomas including Union Road, Hillside Crescent, Hillside Close and Cruachán View. A map of the Ballyogarty Water Supply (see attached) is available on www.water.ie

An alternative water supplies in the form of a bulk tanker has been arranged and will be in place from this evening at Kilmacthomas GAA Club. The alternative water supply will be replenished on a daily basis. Customers are reminded to use their own containers when taking water from the tanker and to boil water before consumption as a precautionary measure.

Uisce Éireann drinking water compliance and operational experts are working to resolve this situation as soon as possible.

Speaking about the imposition of the notice, Uisce Éireann’s Maura Phelan said: “Uisce Éireann is aware of the impact a Do Not Consume Notice has on the community and would like to reassure impacted customers we are working to lift the notice as quickly and as safely as possible. We would ask customers who have concerns to contact our customer care team on 1800 278 278.”

This water should not be used for

• Drinking
• Drinks made with water
• Food preparation, washing or cooking of food,
• Brushing of teeth
• Making of ice
• Children under 12 months old should not drink this water
• In particular, children under 12 months old should not drink this water. This water should not be used for making up infant formula for bottled fed infants. An alternative source of water should be used. 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. It is best not to use bottled water labelled as ‘Natural Mineral Water’ as it can have high levels of sodium (salt) and other minerals, although it rarely does. ‘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 (rolling boil for 1 minute), and cooled in the normal way
• Ready-to-use formula that does not need added water can also be used.
• Domestic water filters will not render water safe to drink
• Caution should be taken when bathing infants to ensure that they do not swallow the bathing water
• Discard ice cubes in fridges and freezers and filtered water in fridges

What can you use water for?

• The water can be used for personal hygiene, bathing, flushing toilets, laundry and washing of utensils
• Uisce Éireann will continue to liaise with the Health Service Executive with a view to lifting this drinking water restriction as soon as practicable.

Updates are available on our Water Supply Updates section on www.water.ie, on X @IWCare and via our customer care helpline, open 24/7 on 1800 278 278.

ENDS

For press queries, please contact press@water.ie

Following consultation with the Health Service Executive (HSE), Uisce Éireann have issued a Boil Water Notice to protect the health of approximately 425 customers supplied by the Kilrossanty Public Water Supply, Co. Waterford. This follows increased turbidity in the raw water source.

Customers can check if their property is included by visiting www.water.ie and entering the property’s Eircode or by calling the Uisce Éireann customer care helpline, open 24/7, on 1800 278 278. A map of the area is attached and available to view on the supply and service section of water.ie.

All consumers affected by this notice must boil their water before drinking.  

Uisce Éireann’s Maura Phelan 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. We understand the impact a Boil Water Notice (BWN) has on the local community and apologise for any inconvenience caused.”

Uisce Éireann’s drinking water standards, as per EU Drinking Water regulations, are strict and include wide safety margins. Where risks to water quality are identified through Uisce Éireann’s enhanced testing and monitoring programme, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is consulted, and Boil Water Notices 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 Boil Water Notices. Customers are reminded that the water is safe to consume once boiled.

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;
• Making of ice – discard ice cubes in fridges and freezers and filtered water in fridges. Make ice from cooled boiled water.

What actions should be taken:

• Use water prepared for drinking when preparing foods that will not be cooked (e.g. washing salads);
• Water can be used for personal hygiene, bathing and flushing of toilets but not for brushing teeth or gargling;
• Boil water by bringing to a vigorous, rolling boil (e.g. with an automatic kettle) and allow to cool. Cover and store 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;
• Caution should be taken when bathing children to ensure that they do not swallow the bathing water;
• Preparing Infant Formula: Where a Boil Water Notice is in place, you can prepare infant formula from tap water that has been boiled once (rolling boil for 1 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. It is best not to use bottled water labelled as ‘Natural Mineral Water’ as it can have high levels of sodium (salt) and other minerals, although it rarely does. ‘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 (rolling boil for 1 minute), 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.

Updates are available on our Water Supply Updates section on water.ie, on X @IWCare and via our customer care helpline, open 24/7 on 1800 278 278.

ENDS

For media queries please contact press@water.ie