Boil Water Notice on Southwest Regional Public Water Supply lifted with immediate effect
Information below is relevant until further updates are provided here or on our Supply and Service Updates section.
Uisce Éireann and Limerick City and County Council would like to notify customers supplied by the Southwest Regional Public Water Supply, that the Boil Water Notice in place since 25 May, has been lifted with immediate effect following consultation undertaken with the HSE.
All consumers on the Southwest Regional Public Water Supply can now resume normal use of the water supply for drinking, food preparation and brushing teeth.
The notice was originally issued due to issues with treatment processes at the water treatment plant. Uisce Éireann operation and compliance experts worked with colleagues in Limerick City and County Council to carry out the necessary works to enable the notice to be lifted as quickly as possible.
Uisce Éireann Operations Lead, Duane O'Brien, said: "Uisce Éireann wishes to thank the people of North West Dromcolliher Village and surrounding areas for their patience, co-operation and assistance during this Boil Water Notice."
The 197 people impacted by this Boil Water Notice received hand delivered information advising them of the notice initially and the Uisce Éireann Customer Contact Centre (1800 278 278) is available to answer customer queries in relation to the lifting of this notice.
Uisce Éireann is responsible for delivering public drinking water and wastewater services for the people of Ireland. We are committed to enabling communities to thrive by continuously upgrading and developing critical infrastructure to support sustainable growth and development, providing safe drinking water, and enhancing the environment.
Previous Updates
Uisce Éireann in partnership with Limerick County Council have issued a Boil Water Notice for customers supplied by the Southwest Regional Public Water Supply. This notice is being issued to protect the health of approximately 197 customers due to issues with treatment processes at the water treatment plant.
Areas impacted include North West Dromcolliher Village and surrounding areas. 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.
Map of the area affected
Drinking water experts from Uisce Éireann and Limerick County Council are working to rectify issues at the treatment plant and lift the notice as quickly and as safely as possible, in consultation with the HSE.
Duane O' Brien, Uisce Éireann, regrets the inconvenience to impacted customers, adding, "Public health is Uisce Éireann number one priority and we would like to assure customers that the notice has been put in place to protect public health. We acknowledge the inconvenience caused to homes and businesses and would like to assure customers that we are working to resolve the issue and lift the notice as quickly as possible."
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) are 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 Twitter @IWCare and via our customer care helpline, open 24/7 on 1800 278 278.