Boil Water Notice lifted for customers supplied by Ardfinnan Regional Water Supply Scheme

Uisce Éireann continue to monitor water levels across the Ardfinnan Regional Water Supply Scheme following a significant burst to a water main that impacted supplies to over 12,000 customers in South Tipperary.

Water levels in reservoirs across the Scheme are continuing to build and night-time restrictions are no longer required. Uisce Éireann’s Colin Cunningham appealed for continued public help to assist with full recovery. “Good progress has been made following two nights of overnight restrictions and the majority of customers should have full supply returned. I’d like to thank the public for their assistance to date and appeal for people to conserve water as some customers may experience intermittent supply, particularly on higher ground, while the Scheme continues to full recovery.”

Alternative water supplies will remain in place at a number of locations over the weekend:  

• Ardfinnan
• Newcastle
• Clogheen
• Knocklofty
• Grange
• Goatenbridge
• Poulmucka Cross

A Boil Water Notice remains in place to protect the health of consumers and apologising for the inconvenience to impacted customers Colin Cunningham added:

“Public health is always our number one priority and we would like to assure customers that the notice has been put in place to protect public health. I acknowledge the inconvenience caused to homes and businesses in the community, and we are working in conjunction with the HSE to lift the Boil Water Notice and restore normal water supply to all customers as soon as possible.”

Uisce Éireann continues to provide detailed, real-time, and local information about water service and supply issues here. The Uisce Éireann customer care helpline is open 24/7 on 1800 278 278 and updates are also issued via Facebook and X @IWCare.

Uisce Éireann wish to advise all customers on the Ardfinnan Regional Water Supply Scheme that restrictions will be required again overnight (from 9pm on June 6 – 7am on June 7) to support the recovery of water levels in the reservoir. Work continues to restore full supply to all 12,000 customers in South Tipperary following a burst to the raw water main supplying the treatment plant.

Customers in the following areas will see restrictions from 9pm tonight to 7am tomorrow morning:

• Rathkeevin, Ballingarrane, Gortmore, Giantsgrave, Rathnasliggeen, Chancellorstown and surrounding areas.
• Ardfinan Village
• Garryroe / Marlfield/ Cuckoohill
• Cahir (Clonmel side of the bridge, Tipperary Road and Mitchelstown Road {R913})

A Boil Water Notice remains in place to protect the health of consumers.

Uisce Éireann’s Colin Cunninghanm acknowledged the impact on customers, adding: “on behalf of Uisce Éireann, I’d like to thank customers who are impacted by this unplanned outage for their patience and co-operation while we continue work to restore water supply to normal levels”.  

Uisce Éireann continues to provide detailed, real-time, and local information about water service and supply issues on www.water.ie. The Uisce Éireann customer care helpline is open 24/7 on 1800 278 278 and updates are also issued via X @IWCare. 

Uisce Éireann has completed repairs on a burst water main on the Ardfinnan Regional Supply Scheme impacting approximately 12,000 customers across South Tipperary.

According to Uisce Éireann Operations Lead Colin Cunningham: “Crews have been on site since early this morning to complete repairs on the water main. Customers will start to see water returning across the network but it will take a number of days before normal supply is returned to all areas and overnight restrictions will be necessary to support the recovery of water levels in the reservoir.”

Customers in the following area will see restrictions from 9pm tonight to 7am tomorrow morning: 

• Rathkeevin, Ballingarrane, Gortmore, Giantsgrave, Rathnasliggeen, Chancellorstown and surrounding areas.
• Ardfinan Village
• Garryroe / Marlfield/ Cuckoohill
• Cahir (Clonmel side of the bridge, Tipperary Road and Mitchelstown Road R913)

A Boil Water Notice remains in place to protect the health of consumers.

Colin Cunningham said: “We regret any inconvenience as a result of this issue and thank the local community for their patience as we work to restore normal supply to all customers."

The Uisce Éireann customer care helpline is open 24/7 on 1800 278 278 and customers can also contact us on X @IWCare with any queries. For updates please visit the Water Supply Updates section of our website.

Following a burst to a large water main on the Ardfinnan Regional Supply Scheme, Uisce Éireann is working to restore supply to approximately 12,000 customers across South Tipperary including:

• All Ardfinnan and surrounding areas, Grange, Knocklofty, Newcastle, Ballyclerihan, Cahir (Clonmel side of the bridge, Tipperary Road and Mitchelstown Road{R913}), Ballingarrane (as far as the Cahir road roundabout Clonmel), Market Hill and Red City area (Fethard).
• Kilnamack West Co Waterford
• Graigue Group Water scheme supplied by Ardfinnan PWS is also affected. 

Speaking about the unplanned outage, Water Operations Lead for Uisce Éireann, Colin Cunningham said:

“Unfortunately this is a large burst to a scheme supplying upwards on 12,000 people, which has caused a shut down at the treatment plant and depleted all available water supplies at the reservoir. We have crews onsite since early this morning and we are making every effort to repair the burst."

In order to restore supply as quickly as possible, increased flows will be put through the treatment plant which may result in elevated turbidity in the treated water.  As a result, and following consultation with the Health Service Executive, we are issuing a Boil Water Notice with immediate effect to protect the health of consumers.

“We regret any inconvenience as a result of this issue and thank the local community for their patience while we complete the repairs.”

To support customers, Uisce Éireann has arranged for alternative water supplies to be made available from midday today. The alternative supplies will remain in place until normal supply is returned to all customers. Customers are reminded to use their own containers when taking water from the tankers and to boil water before consumption as a precautionary measure as per HSE advice.

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.

Alternative Water Supplies are available from the following locations from midday today:  

Ardfinnan; Newcastle; Clogheen; Knocklofty; Grange; Goatenbridge; Poulmucka Cross; Tipperary Road & Rosemount Estate, Cahir

Vulnerable customers wo have registered with Uisce Éireann receive direct communications for planned and unplanned outages lasting more than four hours.

The Uisce Éireann customer care helpline is open 24/7 on 1800 278 278 and customers can also contact us on X @IWCare with any queries. For updates please visit the Water Supply Updates section of the Uisce Éireann website.