Rosses Regional Public Water Supply Boil Water Notice lifted with immediate effect
Information below is relevant until further updates are provided here or on our Supply and Service Updates section.
Uisce Éireann, working in partnership with Donegal County Council, wishes to notify customers on the Rosses Regional Public Water Supply that following the completion of remedial measures and the receipt of satisfactory monitoring results, the boil water notice is lifted with immediate effect. This decision follows consultation undertaken with the Health Service Executive (HSE).
Speaking about the lifting of the notice, Uisce Éireann's Seamus O'Brien said: "Uisce Éireann acknowledges and understands the impact this Boil Water Notice had on the community, and we sincerely regret the inconvenience. Our drinking water compliance and operational experts worked hard to resolve this issue as quickly and as safely as possible. We are grateful to the media, elected representatives and members of the public who shared the information. We would also like to thank Donegal County Council and HSE for their input and support throughout the process."
The notice, arising out of operational difficulties at Crolly Water Treatment Plant, was put in place to protect the health of approximately 10,000 customers in the Crolly, Loughanure, Annagry, Kinncasslagh, Burtonport, Dungloe, Gweedore, Gola Island and all areas and group water schemes supplied by Crolly Water Treatment Plant.
All consumers affected by the notice and served from the Rosses regional Public Water Supply can now resume normal use of the water supply for drinking, food preparation and brushing teeth.
Uisce Éireann and the Local Authority/Health Service Executive Water Liaison Group will continue to meet and will review ongoing process control, monitoring and testing of the drinking water supply.
If customers have any queries regarding this Boil Water Notice and the lifting of it, they should contact Uisce Éireann directly on our customer care helpline, open 24/7, on 1800 278 278.
Uisce Éireann 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.
Previous Updates
Following consultation with the Health Service Executive (HSE), Uisce Éireann and Donegal County Council have issued a Boil Water Notice for customers supplied by Rosses Regional Public Water Supply with immediate effect.
The notice, arising out of operational and mechanical issues at Crolly Water Treatment Plant caused by the freezing weather conditions, has been put in place to protect the health of approximately 10,000 customers.
The areas affected by the Boil Water Notice include Crolly, Loughanure, Annagry, Kinncasslagh, Burtonport, Dungloe, Gweedore, Gola Island, Inishfree Island and all areas and group water schemes supplied by Crolly Water Treatment Plant.
Customers can check if their property is included by visiting the Water Quality section of our website 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 Updates section of our website.
A number of customers on the Rosses Regional Public Water Supply will experience disruptions today, but it's expected that a full supply will be restored later this afternoon. Customers are advised to boil water before use until further notice.
Drinking water experts from Uisce Éireann and Donegal County Council are working to rectify the issues at the treatment plant and lift the temporary notice as quickly and as safely as possible, in consultation with the HSE.
Uisce Éireann's, Seamus O'Brien, regrets the inconvenience to impacted customers, adding, "The freezing temperatures has impacted treatment capabilities at the plant. Public health is Uisce Éireann's number one priority, and we would like to advise customers that the notice has been put in place to protect public health. We completely understand the community's frustration and can assure everyone that we are working tirelessly to resolve the issues affecting the treatment plant. We again apologise for the inconvenience this has 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) 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 boiled water 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 the Supply and Service Updates section of our website, on Twitter @IWCare and via our customer care helpline, open 24/7 on 1800 278 278.
