Boil Water Notice
Learn about Boil Water Notices and what you should do if you are issued with one.
A Boil Water Notice tells you that it is not safe to drink water from your tap. Before you drink it, you must boil and cool it.
When we issue a Boil Water Notice
We regularly monitor and test all water supplies. If we find harmful bacteria or pathogens in water samples, we:
- Consult the Health Service Executive (HSE), Ireland's public health authority
- Tell affected customers if our consultation with the HSE determines there is a risk to public health
- Place a Boil Water Notice or Do Not Consume notice on the water supply
- Tell the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- Investigate the cause of the issue and correct it
To protect public health, we sometimes issue a notice before test results confirm the risk. For example, if a disinfection system fails or a water source is polluted.
When to use boiled and cooled water
- Drinking, drinks made with water and filtered water
- Brushing your teeth or water for gargling
- Making ice (throw away existing ice cubes)
- Preparing foods which you don't cook, like salads or fruit
- Giving drinks to pets
When it's ok to use tap water
-
Showering
-
Bathing
- Flushing the toilet
Children and infants
How to care for children and babies during a Boil Water Notice.
Bathing
Make sure that babies or children don't drink or swallow their bath water. You might want to sponge bath them while there is a Boil water notice in place.
Baby formula and feeds
Advice from the HSE:
You can prepare infant formula during a Boil Water Notice using:
- tap water that you have boiled for 1 minute and cooled
- bottled water that you have boiled for 1 minute and cooled
- ready-to-use formula that does not need added water
- always sterilise baby bottles and do not wash them with tap water
Natural mineral water can contain high levels of minerals, including sodium. If you cannot get other water, use natural mineral water to keep your baby hydrated. However, use it for as short a time as possible.
Food businesses
The HSE has guidance for food businesses on using commercial appliances during a Boil Water Notice. This guidance only applies to food businesses, such as cafes and restaurants. It does not apply to private homes. If you have questions about the guidance, contact your local Environmental Health section of the HSE.
Water for animals
Pets
Avoid giving tap water to your pet while a Boil Water Notice is in place. If you have questions, talk to your local vet.
Livestock
We put Boil Water Notices in place to protect human health. Outdoor animals, such as cattle and horses, are exposed to higher levels of bacteria than humans. Talk to your vet if you have concerns about animals drinking water during a Boil Water Notice.
Customers with health concerns
Customers with health conditions that need a safe water supply should register with Uisce �ireann as a vulnerable customer. Uisce �ireann will directly contact all registered vulnerable customers immediately if a Boil Water Notice or Do Not Consume notice is imposed.
If you have other health concerns, it's best to talk to your doctor or GP.
