Irish Water

A precautionary Boil Water Notice has been issued from Wednesday at 12 midnight (00.01 Thursday), to protect the health of approximately 63,600 customers

Uisce Éireann and Waterford City and County Council have issued a precautionary Boil Water Notice, effective from Wednesday at 12 midnight (00.01 Thursday), to protect the health of approximately 63,600 customers supplied by Adamstown, Stradbally and Ballylaneen Water Treatment Plants. This is due to planned industrial action, arising from a dispute between the Unite Trade Union and 12 Local Authorities.

Uisce Éireann’s primary focus is and always will be the protection of public health. Due to the strike action, Uisce Éireann has taken steps to protect public health by imposing Boil Water Notices on these schemes. All customers in the following areas are advised to boil their water before consuming from Wednesday at 12 midnight (00.01 Thursday) until further notice: Waterford City, Tramore, Dunmore East, Passage East, Crooke, Faithlegg, Cheekpoint, Stradbally, Ballylaneen, Kill, Bonmahon, Kilmeaden/Butlerstown, Ballyduff and surrounding areas.

There may also be some disruption to water services, in particular, the speed at which bursts to the water network are repaired in all counties impacted by the strike action.

Customers can check if their property is included by visiting the Water Quality section of http://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.

Maps of the affected area’s are below:

• East Waterford
• Kill Ballylaneen
• Stradbally

Uisce Eireann’s Tom Cuddy, Head of Operations for Uisce Éireann acknowledged the impact of this notice on the community.

“Our expectation was that the core activities of water services are regarded as essential services and should be exempt from industrial action. However, neither Uisce Éireann or the Local Authorities have been able to get clarity through the Unite Strike Committees, that they will continue to operate critical treatment plants or respond to emergencies. Unfortunately, Uisce Éireann has no choice but to put several Boil Water Notices in place to protect public health. The Boil Water Notices may run for several days as we will need time to assess the impacts on treatment plants and processes post-strike.”

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 Twitter @IWCare and via our customer care helpline, open 24/7 on 1800 278 278.

Precautionary Boil Water Notice issued for customers in Waterford City and County

Due to the current high demand for water as a result of the current warm spell, Uisce Éireann is urging communities across Waterford to conserve water to protect supply and reduce the risk of outages.

High usage can lead to pressure reductions which can impact the supply to customers. Supplies across the county are vulnerable to high demand during the summer time.

Speaking about conserving water, Uisce Éireann’s Regional Asset Operations Lead, Ronan Walsh said: “We are appealing to customers to conserve water to give the reservoirs time to replenish. We have had a very dry period and with the warmer weather currently being experienced and more forecasted, supplies will come under further pressure. Any reduction that customers can make in their usage can collectively result in significant supply improvements for all customers. I would ask that everyone in Waterford play their part to help conserve water this summer.

“While we enjoy the sunshine it is important that we all consider our water usage and look at simple yet impactful ways to conserve water. It can sometimes be difficult to know where to start, but even small changes can make a significant difference. By turning off the hose and avoiding power washing we can all help ensure there is enough water for everyone as we go through the summer.”

For more simple ways to conserve water check out the Uisce Éireann website where our conservation calculator (www.water.ie/calculator) can help people work out how much water they are currently saving and how they can conserve even more.

Uisce Éireann will continue to monitor the levels at all our supplies over the coming weeks and months and take any actions that may be necessary to maintain supplies, including communicating about localised issues as they arise.

Members of the public can report any leaks in the public water network by contacting Uisce Éireann 24/7 at 1800 278 278 or on water.ie.

Uisce Éireann are asking the public to help play their part in protecting essential water supplies for their local communities.

There are a number of easy steps people can take to reduce their water usage during the hot weather, including:

• Avoid power washing and keep the garden hose in the shed
• Check for leaks on outdoor taps or troughs as these can lead to large losses of treated water
• Remember that paddling pools and swimming pools can use huge volumes of water so try to minimise the amount of water used and consider reusing the water for the garden or cleaning the car.
• Report any visible leaks on the public network to Uisce Éireann at www.water.ie

ENDS

For media queries please contact press@water.ie

• Uisce Éireann celebrates 10th year of its sponsorship of the Green Schools Water Theme, saving 2.6 billion litres of water
• 161 students across Waterford and the Southern Region are water ambassadors for the programme

Uisce Éireann has confirmed its continued sponsorship of An Taisce’s Green-Schools programme to support schools working to gain a Green Flag under the water theme. Now in its tenth year the sponsorship has seen over 2.6 billion litres of water saved, which is equivalent to filling 1,040 Olympic size swimming pools. 161 students across County Waterford and the Southern region are water ambassadors for the programme. 52 schools in Waterford and neighbouring counties are involved with Green Schools.

In total over 370,000 students across Ireland have completed the programme, achieving 1,310 Green Flags, as well as participating in a range of additional initiatives, including poster and video competitions, Walks for Water, Water Ambassador programmes and a range of workshops with Irish Water and other stakeholders in the water sector.

Speaking at the launch, Eamon Gallen of Uisce Éireann, said: “We are immensely proud to continue our sponsorship of the water theme and our association with Green Schools.  This partnership is the perfect fit as it and embodies our core values while helping the next generation understand and appreciate Ireland’s water resources and encourage conservation from a young age.

“It is truly inspiring to see how the schools taking part in the Green-Schools water theme are setting an example for how we should all value our precious water resources and have proved just how much water can be salvaged.”

Joanne Scott, Green Schools Manager, said: “We are delighted to have the continued support of Uisce Éireann. The support over the past nine years has enabled us to create and develop resources, events, and ongoing initiatives to assist schools as best we can with their work on our water theme. Each year our schools have achieved incredibly low water use and a strong school-wide culture of water conservation which is demonstrated in the massive water savings made since the sponsorship began.”

The Green-Schools water theme is a grassroots sponsorship that aims to foster awareness and understanding of water conservation, supply, protection, and pollution issues among schools and offers practical ideas, actions, and solutions on reducing consumption levels and increasing sustainability.

The Water Theme is tailored to students at all stages of their development, from junior primary to secondary level with a range of activities to suit all ages. In addition to developing awareness around water conservation the sponsorship incorporates wider engagement around stewardship of our water resources, including raising awareness of the impacts of wastewater on inland and coastal waterways.

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Safeguarding the water supply in Portlaw is a vital focus for Irish Water with further works planned as part of its programme to drive down leakage and reduce the number of bursts and unplanned outages impacting the community.

Irish Water, in partnership with Waterford City and County Council, is replacing 525 meters of ageing and problematic backyard service connections in George Street and William Street in Portlaw to provide a more reliable water supply, improve water quality and reduce the amount of treated drinking water lost to leakage.

• Download a leaflet about the scheme here / FAQs

The works, which are due to begin next week, are a critical step in conserving our precious resource and reducing high levels of leakage which have been a significant source of disruption and outages for customers.

Backyard services are found in older areas, often installed to the rear of a customer’s property and typically made of cast iron or lead. Due to the age and deteriorating condition of the pipework, they are often a significant source of leakage and supply disruption for customers. Backyard services are usually shared, running through a number of neighbouring properties making it difficult to detect and repair leaks. Where properties share a connection, leaks and bursts affect all connected properties, resulting in low pressure and/or outages.

Irish Water would like to thank all customers in Portlaw who have engaged with us and assisted us in the provision of our back yard services programme which will not only result in significant water savings but will also reduce the number of bursts and outages impacting customers. These projects are only successful if all customers on a shared water connection support and facilitate these vital works so that the old and leaking mains can be decommissioned.

Speaking about the benefits of the project, Joe Carroll, Regional Delivery Lead with Irish Water, said: “Old backyard service connections are a huge source of leakage and continue to impact communities right across Ireland, causing low pressure and supply disruption. Replacing these old water mains and service connections in poor condition will eliminate existing leaks and significantly reduce the amount of clean drinking water lost into the ground. We would like to thank the local residents in Portlaw for facilitating these works and working with us to provide a more secure and reliable water supply for generations to come.”

Where water mains are being constructed traffic management will be in place during this time. Local and emergency traffic will be maintained at all times.

These works will be carried out by Shareridge Utilities Ltd in partnership with Waterford City and County Council on behalf of Irish Water and are due to be completed by the end of December.

The National Leakage Reduction Programme helps provide a more reliable water supply to Irish communities by reducing high levels of leakage and improving water quality. Since 2018, its delivery represents an investment of over €500 million to upgrade the underground water network across the country through the delivery of the Leakage Reduction Programme. Irish Water is also investing a further €250 million annually up to the end of 2030 directed at fixing leaks and replacing pipes to provide a more reliable water supply. To find out more about Irish Water’s national programme of works to reduce leakage and improve Ireland’s water supply visit our Leakage Reduction Programme Page www.water.ie/projects-plans/national-projects/leakage-reduction-programme/

Irish Water is responsible for the delivery of all public water and wastewater services in Ireland. We are committed to continuously upgrading and developing critical infrastructure to support the growth needed in housing and across our economy, while protecting the environment and safeguarding water supplies.

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For press queries, please contact press@water.ie

Irish Water has launched a new Experience Based Accreditation Scheme that will be available for Experienced Contractors in Waterford. The scheme will accredit Experienced Contractors to deliver new water services infrastructure in public roads for housing developers.

This is the latest initiative as part of Irish Water’s commitment to support the delivery of housing across Ireland. The scheme supports the efficient delivery of essential water services infrastructure in the public road by Experienced Contractors while ensuring best practice procedures and standards.

It follows the successful rollout of Irish Water’s self lay in the public road programme, whereby developers can deliver water and wastewater infrastructure in the public roads to service new housing developments. The new scheme, which has been launched 18 months ahead of schedule, recognises contractors’ adherence to Irish Water’s Standard Details, Codes of Practice and Quality Assurance procedures. These best practice procedures and standards have been developed by Irish Water to prevent a reoccurrence of legacy issues that exist across the country.

Welcoming the self-lay programme and the new accreditation scheme, Darragh O’Brien TD, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, said: “This latest initiative from Irish Water is another fantastic step forward in ensuring housing developments are completed efficiently across the country. I’m delighted to see such support for my Department’s Housing For All strategy, and to see Experienced Contractors across Ireland support the efficient delivery of homes. Irish Water listened to industry calls and responded quickly. Through the Housing For All strategy, my Department aims to see an average of 33,000 homes provided each year to 2030, and to know these homes will be completed as efficiently as possible is a fantastic assurance.”

The scheme, which is also supported by the Construction Industry Federation (CIF), the Irish Homebuilders Association and Commission for Regulation of Utilities, is the latest in a number of initiatives Irish Water has implemented to support Government’s Housing For All strategy.

Other initiatives include the publication of water and wastewater capacity registers which give an indication of the capacity of water and wastewater treatment plants all around the country, making it easier for developers and local authorities to prioritise areas with services.

As part of its commitment to open communication, Irish Water has also hosted several webinars for industry players to explain the application process and to highlight issues that may cause delays in the process.

The utility continues to support the housing industry through its dedicated connections and developer services team which offers a range of resources and support material, including extending a helping hand through the entire process from housing development pre-planning stage right through to construction.

These initiatives have resulted in strong progress being made in the delivery of housing, with over 32,000 housing connections offered by Irish Water in 2021.

Yvonne Harris, Irish Water’s Housing Programme Director, said: “We are committed to supporting Government’s drive in developing more homes across the country and ensuring these homes can be completed efficiently. We’ve launched our new Experienced Based Accreditation Scheme following calls from industry where, following a series of webinars with industry members, many highlighted the need for self-lay of water services infrastructure in public roads for new housing developments. Irish Water listened and is now ensuring that Experienced Contractors across every county in Ireland can become accredited to deliver new water services infrastructure in public roads for new housing developments.

“We have ensured our Experience Based Accreditation Scheme is easy and hassle-free to register for, and we’ve already seen strong interest from applicants. It ensures safe and reliable water services will continue to be provided to new home buyers and existing residents, now and into the future.”

James Benson, Director of Housing, Planning & Development with CIF, added: “CIF welcomes this excellent initiative by Irish Water which will facilitate us to deliver housing in a timely and efficient manner. Our members are committed to meeting the highest standards in the construction of housing and associated infrastructure. This Experience Based Accreditation Scheme recognises this and supports the ongoing development of expertise in the water industry by developers and contractors through accreditation.”

Shane Carty of Carty Contractors, a contractor who participated in the pilot self lay programme, said: “We welcome the proposal by Irish Water to establish an accreditation scheme that will recognise the positive engagement by Contractors with Irish Water’s requirements since 2014.”

Irish Water, working in partnership with Waterford City & County Council wishes to notify consumers that following the receipt of satisfactory monitoring results, the Boil Water Notice which has been in place is now lifted with immediate effect. This decision follows consultation undertaken with the Health Service Executive.

Irish Water operations and compliance experts worked with colleagues in Waterford City & County Council to carry out the necessary works to enable the notice to be lifted as quickly as possible. All consumers on the Ballymacarbry Public Water Supply can now resume normal use of the water supply for drinking, food preparation and brushing teeth.

Irish Water and the Waterford City & County Council – Health Service Executive, Water Local Liaison Group will continue to meet and review ongoing process control, monitoring and testing of the drinking water supply.

The Irish Water Customer Contact Centre (1800 278 278) is available to answer customer queries in relation to the lifting of this notice. Further information is available on our website at www.water.ie.

Irish Water and Waterford City & County Council acknowledge the patience, cooperation and assistance of the general public during the period of the boil water notice and greatly regrets any inconvenience caused to householders and the business community.

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