Crews continue to manage operational issues at the Ballany Water Treatment Plant serving in North Westmeath following Storm Bert

Uisce Éireann, is working to restore normal operations at the Ballany Water Treatment Plant, which has been impacted by production capacity issues due to poor raw water quality following Storm Bert. This has resulted in reservoirs reaching critical levels.

The Ballany Water Treatment Plant supplies drinking water to the communities of Fore, Collinstown, Glenidan, Hilltown, Clonnageeragh, Sallymount, Coole, Drumcree, Castlepollard, Delvin, Whitehall and surrounding areas of County Westmeath. 

Expert water services crews were dispatched earlier today and are still onsite to investigate the issue and restore operations as quickly as possible. However, this is dependent on improvements to the raw water quality. 

Local communities supplied by this plant have not been impacted. However, reservoirs in the area are now depleting meaning customers in these areas may be impacted by low water pressure and an interruption to the water supply later this evening.

Alan Farrell, Water Operations Lead with Uisce Éireann said, “Customers in Fore, Collinstown, Glenidan, Hilltown, Clonnageeragh, Sallymount, Coole, Drumcree, Castlepollard, Delvin, Whitehall and surrounding areas may be impacted by reduced water pressure and water outages. We understand how disruptive unplanned outages are and we regret the inconvenience caused. We are working hard to restore normal supply. However, it is dependent on weather conditions through the night”.

As per best practice, most homes and businesses will have on-site water storage to provide a backup source of water for sanitation purposes. Following return of supply, it typically takes two to three hours for normal supply to fully be restored to all areas as the water refills the network, especially for those on higher ground or at the end of the network. 

Vulnerable customers who have registered with Uisce Éireann receive direct communications from us 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 Twitter @IWCare with any queries. For updates, please see the Water Supply updates section.

Uisce Éireann, is continuing to work to restore normal operations at the Ballany Water Treatment Plant, which has been impacted by production capacity issues due to poor raw water quality following Storm Bert. The plant is back up to full production. However, reservoirs which serve a population of almost 10,000 people across North Westmeath are empty and are currently refilling. 

Communities across Castlepollard, Delvin, Whitehall and surrounding areas will see their supply returning this morning. Following return of supply, it typically takes two to three hours for normal supply to fully be restored to all areas as the water refills the network, especially for those on higher ground or at the end of the network. However, as the reservoir was empty this could take longer. Uisce Éireann urges customers to conserve supply as it returns to allow the storage reserves replenish.  

Communities across Fore, Collinstown, Glenidan, Hilltown, Clonnageeragh, Sallymount and Coole are still being impacted by an unplanned interruption to supply. The reservoir serving this area is also refilling. However, water services crews are continuing to monitor the quality of supply ahead of supply restoration. It is expected that the network will begin to refill later this afternoon. Similarly, Uisce Éireann urges customers to conserve supply as it returns to allow the storage reserves replenish.  

Alternative Water Supplies in the form of bulk containers and tankers have been deployed across North Westmeath in the following locations:

•    Coole
•    Fore Abbey Carpark
•    Castlepollard Square
•    Delvin
•    Collinstown
•    Clonmellon

Customers are reminded to use their own containers when taking water from tankers and to boil water before consumption as a precautionary measure.

Alan Farrell, Water Operations Lead with Uisce Éireann said, “Uisce Éireann is working hard to address supply interruptions being experienced by some customers supplied by the Ballany Water Treatment Plant as a result of the impacts of Storm Bert. Our priority is the provision of clean safe drinking water to communities and the safety of water services staff who work to make that happen. We understand how disruptive unplanned outages are and we regret the inconvenience caused. We are working hard to restore normal supply across North Westmeath”.

Vulnerable customers who have registered with Uisce Éireann receive direct communications from us 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 Twitter @IWCare with any queries. For updates, please see the Water Supply updates section.